Non-surgical therapy of lung cancer--a critical review by a respiratory physician.

The state of the art of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in inoperable lung cancer is described. The possible role of radical and palliative radiotherapy is also discussed. There is an extreme contrast between small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer with regard to prognosis (with and without therapy) and to their sensitivity to chemotherapy. Radiotherapy with curative intent (radical dosage) is disappointing in both cell types, however as a palliative measure it is most useful in the majority of situations in all lung cancer cell types. Small cell cancer is in general extremely sensitive to chemotherapy but the responses are usually of limited duration, probably due to the development of drug resistance. Non small cell lung cancer is insensitive to chemotherapy. New trends in radiotherapy and chemotherapy are described.