Today, however, in some countries most patients are offered some kind of chemotherapy. These data led to a new optimism, but unfortunately they have not been substantiated in recent large randomized trials. Combinations that include cisplatin are probably superior to the best supportive care in terms of survival and the quality of life. There is, however, no standard or best chemotherapy regimen. The selection of particular drugs or combinations may be influenced by their ease of administration, toxicity, the presence or absence of coexisting medical conditions, and financial costs.
Lung cancer is the most preventable of all common cancers.
The elimination of cigarette smoking remains the best hope for reducing mortality from this disease. For former smokers and those who continue to smoke, new techniques for the early detection of the disease, when it is most curable, and methods for preventing lung cancer are promising developments. The use of chemopreventive agents such as orally administered vitamins has been of limited value, but the development of an aerosolized route of delivery for these agents, which would allow uniform delivery of the agent to the entire pulmonary epithelium, may enhance our ability to control or even reverse early changes associated with lung cancer. Such developments could benefit patients at risk for lung cancer. All rights reserved.