Treatment Options by Stage

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Occult Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of occult non-small cell lung cancer depends on where the cancer has spread. It can usually be cured by surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with occult non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

Treatment of stage 0 may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection or segmental resection).
• Photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.
• Electrocautery, cryosurgery, or laser surgery using an endoscope.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, sleeve resection, or lobectomy).
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy or radiation therapy following surgery.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemoprevention.
• A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy or other treatments using an endoscope.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage II non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, sleeve resection, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy).
• Chemotherapy followed by surgery.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy following surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage II non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed with surgery may include the following:

• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy followed by surgery.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy.

Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed with surgery may include the following:

• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• External radiation therapy alone (for patients who cannot be treated with combined therapy, as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life).
• Internal radiation therapy or laser surgery using an endoscope, as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.

For more information about supportive care for symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, see the PDQ summary on Cardiopulmonary Syndromes.

Non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus, often called Pancoast tumor, begins in the upper part of the lung and spreads to nearby tissues such as the ribs and vertebrae. Treatment of Pancoast tumors may include the following:

• Radiation therapy alone.
• Radiation therapy and surgery.
• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy and surgery.
• Surgery alone.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Some stage IIIA non-small cell lung tumors that have grown into the chest wall may be completely removed. Treatment of chest wall tumors may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Surgery and radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Chemotherapy followed by or combined with external radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy followed by surgery.
• External or internal radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Clinical trials of new radiation therapyschedules and new combinations of treatments.

For more information about supportive care for symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, see the following PDQ summaries:

• Cardiopulmonary Syndromes
• Pain

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy and targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody.
• Targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
• Maintenance therapy with an anticancer drug to help keep cancer from progressing, after combination chemotherapy.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy using an endoscope.
• A clinical trial of new drugs and combinations of treatments.

For more information about supportive care for symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, see the following PDQ summaries:

• Cardiopulmonary Syndromes
• Pain

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.