Occult Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

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.

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 PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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 PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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 surgery followed by chemoprevention.
• A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy or other therapies using an endoscope.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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

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

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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

• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

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

• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• External radiation therapy alone (for patients who cannot be treated with combined therapy).

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.
• Surgery alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy and surgery.
• 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 PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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

• Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Clinical trials of 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 PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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

• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy and biologic therapy.
• Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy using an endoscope.
• A clinical trial of new 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 PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry 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.

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