Chemotherapy followed by lung resection in inoperable non-small cell lung carcinomas due to locally far-advanced disease.

From 1977, 29 patients with inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma due to locally far-advanced disease underwent lung resection after receiving two to eight courses of chemotherapy. After the surgery was performed, three additional courses of chemotherapy were given. The overall median survival from onset of the chemotherapy was 30.5 months; postoperatively, it was 24.5 months (five patients survived greater than 5 years). Postoperative mortality was 10.3%. The overall survival results compare favorably with those obtained with radiation therapy.