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World J Clin Oncol. Oct 10, 2014; 5(4): 595-603
Published online Oct 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.595
Surgical strategies in the therapy of non-small cell lung cancer
Feras Al-Shahrabani, Daniel Vallböhmer, Sebastian Angenendt, Wolfram T Knoefel
Feras Al-Shahrabani, Daniel Vallböhmer, Sebastian Angenendt, Wolfram T Knoefel, Department of Surgery A, Section of Thoracic Surgery, Heinrich Heine University and University Hospital, 40225 Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany
Author contributions: Al-Shahrabani F, Vallböhmer D, Angenendt S and Knoefel WT substantial contributed to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Dr. Wolfram T Knoefel, Professor, Department of Surgery A, Section of Thoracic Surgery, Heinrich Heine University and University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany. knoefel@uni-duesseldorf.de
Telephone: +49-21-18117351 Fax: +49-21-18117359
Received: April 15, 2014
Revised: June 6, 2014
Accepted: June 27, 2014
Published online: October 10, 2014
Abstract

Lung cancer represents the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite improvements in preoperative staging, surgical techniques, neoadjuvant/adjuvant options and postoperative care, there are still major difficulties in significantly improving survival, especially in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, surgical resection is the primary mode of treatment for stage I and II NSCLC and has become an important component of the multimodality therapy of even more advanced disease with a curative intention. In fact, in NSCLC patients with solitary distant metastases, surgical interventions have been discussed in the last years. Accordingly, this review displays the recent surgical strategies implemented in the therapy of NSCLC patients.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer, Multimodality therapy, Surgical techniques, Neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy, Solitary distant metastases

Core tip: Lung cancer represents the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. To date, surgical resection is the primary mode of treatment for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has become an important component of the multimodality therapy of even more advanced disease with a curative intention. In fact, individualized treatment options, based on clinical tumor stages, in NSCLC patients have been established in the last years that are displayed in this review.