Thoracic intervention and surgery to cure lung cancer: an overview of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in early and oligometastatic lung cancer

Thoracic surgery for lung cancer: current practice and future directions

“…Notwithstanding the impasse – provided there is sufficient will – at some stage, screening with radiology and biomarkers should become available. This will re-characterise lung cancer as a disease with a much longer survival and the prospect of ‘cure’ by various techniques including radiotherapy as discussed by Conibear et al., 7 intervention as discussed by Smith and Jennings, 8 or surgery perhaps combined with more targeted molecular or immune-based therapies. The principle will be to destroy or remove as little functioning lung as possible commensurate with improved survival.…”

Thoracic intervention and surgery to cure lung cancer

“…As far as primary resection is concerned, if the less invasive ablative treatments can be proven to achieve equivalent local control, they should be preferred to thoracotomy and lung resection. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy described by Chia and Conibear 2 and thermal ablation described by Smith and Jennings 3 might, and indeed should, have a role. That is if they can be shown objectively to achieve the clearance margin that Waller calls for.…”

“…The theme running through this collection of four articles is one of lessening the burden of treatment. Ablative techniques may begin to replace lung resection, 2,3 and when surgery is the chosen treatment, collateral damage can be reduced by using videothoracoscopy and by minimising the volume of functioning lung parenchyma that is resected. 4 David Waller reminds us that Russell Brock defined the anatomy of the bronchopulmonary segments but its relevance then was in septic lung disease, lung abscess and bronchiectasis, not lung cancer.…”

“…The articles on radiotherapy and thermal ablation include the treatment of metastases which seems to me to stretch the remit of writing about ‘cure’. 2,3 In 1995, radiotherapists in Chicago proposed a concept of an oligometastatic state. 13 The idea lay dormant for 10 years but is now in the argot of cancer teams.…”

Women in surgery: ending patriarchy

“…Our thoracic surgery series provides an overview of ablative therapy in lung cancer. 2 Meanwhile, Winston Churchill loses his appendix and his ministerial office. 3 If you've had your fill of surgery, you might explore our mini-theme on Italian history?…”