Medical management of lung cancer: Experience in C hina

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer worldwide, as well as in C hina. A multidisciplinary treatment strategy for lung cancer, which includes medical and radiation oncology, surgery, and pathology is used in clinical practice in C hina. C hinese lung cancer patients are treated according to different pathologic and genetic types of the disease. For those with active epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) mutation, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors ( EGFR‐TKI s) are used in first‐, second‐ or third‐line and maintenance treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ). For patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK ) gene rearrangement, C rizotinib is a promising treatment in advanced NSCLC patients. A platinum‐based regimen remains the mainstay of first‐line systemic therapy for advanced NSCLC patients who are negative for EGFR mutation or ALK gene rearrangement. For patients with non‐squamous NSCLC , P emetrexed plus C isplatin is recommended in first‐line systemic therapy. An E ndostatin combination with chemotherapy is used in first‐ and second‐line advanced NSCLC patients. S ‐1 presents a new option of chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC cases. Cisplatin‐based doublet chemotherapy is commonly used in NSCLC patients after surgery as adjuvant therapy. EGFR ‐ TKIs are now being assessed in the adjuvant setting. The standard first‐line chemotherapy regimen of small cell lung cancer ( SCLC ) is platinum with E toposide ( PE ). Amrubicin provides similar survival compared with the PE regimen with an acceptable toxicity profile in extensive stage SCLC patients. Supportive care, such as traditional C hinese medicine and pegylated filgrastim, play an important role in improving patients' quality of life.