Katherine M. W. Pisters, MD

In this issue of ONCOLOGY, Solomon,Mitchell, and Bunn providean excellent review on adjuvanttherapy for resected non–smallcelllung cancer (NSCLC). Theauthors have thoroughly reviewed therecent literature and highlight severalimportant areas for discussion. Theauthors appropriately frame the importanceof the clinical issue at hand.

In recent years, the treatment of many patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved into a multidisciplinary effort combining the talents of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and thoracic surgeons. Prospective, randomized trials have demonstrated improved survival rates in patients with locally advanced disease who are treated with cisplatin (Platinol)-based induction chemotherapy prior to radiation therapy[1,2] or surgery.[3,4] However, interpretation of these and other studies and application of the findings to the management of an individual patient require a thorough understanding of prognostic factors and staging.