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World J Clin Oncol. Oct 10, 2014; 5(4): 633-645
Published online Oct 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.633
Advances in adjuvant systemic therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer
David Leong, Rajat Rai, Brandon Nguyen, Andrew Lee, Desmond Yip
David Leong, Rajat Rai, Desmond Yip, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia
David Leong, Desmond Yip, ANU Medical School, Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
Brandon Nguyen, Andrew Lee, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia
Author contributions: Leong D, Rai R, Nguyen B, Lee A and Yip D wrote the paper
Correspondence to: David Leong, MBBS, FRACP, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia. david.leong@act.gov.au
Telephone: +61-2-62442220 Fax: +61-2-62444266
Received: December 28, 2013
Revised: February 17, 2014
Accepted: May 14, 2014
Published online: October 10, 2014
Processing time: 216 Days and 9.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Improvement in survivals of patients with resected non-small lung cancer has been rather modest. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with high dose cisplatin and vinorelbine has been established to be beneficial in improving disease free and overall survival in stage II and IIIA but not stage I patients. This benefit is observed also in elderly patients. Post-operative radiation therapy has a deleterious effect on early stage tumour but appears to improve survival and reduce local recurrence in higher risk stage III or N2 disease with modern techniques. The availability of targeted biologicals and biomarker development may allow future selection of high risk groups who benefit from adjuvant treatments.