Advances in chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the use of chemotherapy and targeted therapy for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DATA SOURCES: Published articles, book chapters, and research papers. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy has improved both response and survival rates incrementally in patients with advanced NSCLC. Targeted therapy agents are now included in the treatment schema and are impacting overall survival in combination with chemotherapy for first-line therapy and as monotherapy for second- or third-line treatment. In recent years, chemotherapy has also shown efficacy in earlier stages of treatment, especially as adjuvant therapy after surgery. Additionally, elderly patients can tolerate platinum-based chemotherapy without significant toxicities; therefore, age should not be the only determining factor when deciding on treatment for an older person. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is important for nurses to know and understand the background and rationale for many of the current treatments for NSCLC given today.