Lung Cancer: Perspectives and Prospects

Lung cancer offers a challenge for earlier diagnosis and better treatment results. At present lung cancer is recognized late. Opportunities to improve survival are through early detection, accurate diagnosis, absolute localization, and curative therapy. Improvements in diagnosis are being developed, including the fibro-optic bronchoscope. The biology of lung cancer is reflected by its morphological characteristics and clinical symptoms. A clinicoanatomic scheme permits prediction of survival. Surgical treatment remains the only definitive cure. A large study (VA Surgical Adjuvant Group) has indicated no improvement in survival with short-term adjuvant chemotherapy or preoperative X-ray therapy At present treatment with intermittent long-term therapy is administered in hopes of decreasing recurrence rates. The VA Lung Cancer Medical Group has shown improved survival with mechlorethamine in squamous cell carcinoma and cyclophosphamide in oat cell carcinoma. Future advances would include use of combinations of drugs. Prospects for patients should improve soon because of leads presented in this conference.