© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights reserved worldwide.
The ASCO and CCO recommendations for adjuvant treatment for stage I, II, and IIIA NSCLC include the following:
- Chemotherapy after surgery to remove the lung cancer is recommended for patients with stage IIA, IIB, and IIIA NSCLC because clinical trials have shown that it may help patients live longer.
- Chemotherapy after surgery is not recommended for patients with stage IA NSCLC because there is not enough evidence to show that chemotherapy helps these patients live longer, and because these patients tend to have a good chance of long-term survival with surgery alone. For the same reasons, chemotherapy for stage IB NSCLC is not recommended for every patient, but it may be appropriate in some situations. Talk with your doctor for more information.
- Radiation treatment after surgery is not recommended for patients with stage IA, IB, IIA, or IIB NSCLC because clinical trials have shown that it does not help patients live longer. Radiation therapy is not routinely recommended for all patients with stage IIIA NSCLC, but it may be helpful for some patients. Talk with your doctor for more information.
The ASCO/CCO recommendations are summarized in this table:
Table. Summary of Recommendations for Adjuvant Treatment of NSCLC
|
Stage of cancer |
Chemotherapy Recommendation |
Radiation Therapy Recommendation |
|
Stage IA |
No |
No |
|
Stage IB |
Not for every patient; may be used in specific situations |
No |
|
Stage IIA |
Yes |
No |
|
Stage IIB |
Yes |
No |
|
Stage IIIA |
Yes |
Not for every patient; may be used in specific situations |