More than 20% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are classified as stage III disease at diagnosis because they are locoregionally advanced tumors. Local therapy alone (surgery or radiation) leads to poor overall survival in stage III NSCLC because most of the patients with NSCLC die of distant metastases. Therefore, during the past 20 years, studies have focused on developing effective chemotherapy regimens that can be combined with local therapies (surgery and/or radiation). The role of surgery has been extensively evaluated and the selection criteria for resection defined.
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