Overview of the initial treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer - UpToDate

INTRODUCTION Treatment of patients with lung cancer depends upon the cell type (non-small cell versus small cell), tumor stage, molecular characteristics, and an assessment of the patient's overall medical condition. (See "Overview of the initial treatment and prognosis of lung cancer".) Patients with stage I, II, or III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are generally treated with curative intent using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combined-modality approach (table 1). Immunotherapy may be part of the treatment strategy for some with unresectable stage III disease. (See "Management of stage I and stage II non-small cell lung cancer" and "Management of stage III non-small cell lung cancer".) Systemic therapy is generally indicated for patients who present with advanced disease, including those who present with metastases (stage IV) or recur following initial definitive treatment. For patients with a solitary metastasis, surgical resection or definitive irradiation of t

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