Chinese expert consensus on the multidisciplinary clinical diagnosis and treatment of stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer (2019)

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in China, with 733 thousands estimated new lung cancer cases and 610 thousands deaths in 2015. In the pathological type of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80%~85%, and 30% of NSCLC patients have already reached stage Ⅲ at diagnosis, who have lost the optimal opportunity for surgical treatment. Stage Ⅲ NSCLC is highly heterogeneous, the 5-year survival rates of stage ⅢA, ⅢB and ⅢC NSCLC are 36%, 26% and 13%, respectively. For the great complexity of making decisions in the clinical practice of stage Ⅲ NSCLC, the experts of this consensus group combine the latest clinical research results and cutting-edge multidisciplinary concepts, conduct in-depth and detailed discussions on the hot issues and controversies in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up surveillance of stage Ⅲ NSCLC. Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and Committee of Lung Cancer Society jointly publish this consensus to provide guidance for Chinese clinicians.