Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Treatment Options by Stages

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Highlights	Diagnostic Tests	Investigative Agents
Introduction	Staging Systems	Resources
Causes	Treatment Options by Stages	References
Symptoms	Surgical Procedures	References
Risk Factors	Radiation Treatments
Lifestyle Changes	Chemotherapy Treatments

Laser Surgery. Laser surgery allows surgeons to remove small amounts of lung tissue, and it is proving useful for improving symptoms in stage II and IIIA patients. Laser surgery may also be beneficial in treating cancers that have spread to, and are obstructing, the throat.

Photodynamic Therapy. Photodynamic therapy uses bronchoscopy and special laser light beams combined with a light-sensitive drug, called porfimer sodium (Photofrin), to kill cancer cells. The most common side effect is sun sensitivity. Bleeding in the lungs is a more serious side effect. Photodynamic therapy may be considered for patients in early-stage disease who are not candidates for other surgical procedures. It may also be used to reduce symptoms in late-stage disease.

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Cryosurgery. Cryosurgery uses a probe chilled to below freezing to destroy the tumor cells on contact. It is being investigated in combination with radiation therapy. It may also be an alternative in early stage cancer for patients who cannot have surgery.

Electric Cauterization and Thermal Ablation. Electric cauterization, which uses electricity to produce heat that destroys tissue, is also under investigation as a treatment for early-stage disease.

Radiofrequency Ablation. This non-surgical technique that uses an x-ray guided electrode to deliver heat to tissues may benefit lung cancer patients who are not eligible for surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. In one study, 70% of patients treated with this method survived for at least one year. Because the technique spares damage to nearby tissues, patients tend to have minimal side effects. More research is needed to confirm the benefit of radiofrequency ablation over other, non-surgical treatment options.

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Review Date: 07/01/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).