What are we able to achieve in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer today?

Several meta analyses published in the beginning of the 1990s confirmed effectivity of chemotherapy in comparison with best supportive care in advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: the median survival time was prolonged by 6 weeks - 2 months, and the number of patients surviving one year increased by about 10%. Influence of these meta analyses on perception of non-small cell lung cancer chemotherapy as an indicated but less effective treatment continues until today in some extend. Image of the advanced non-small cell lung cancer treatment has improved during the last years markedly, mainly due to new treatment possibilities discussed in this case report. (author)