Cesare Gridelli, MD

Despite the fact that bevacizumab and cetuximab are both in an advanced stage of clinical development for use in treatment for unresectable NSCLC (with bevacizumab already licensed for the use in clinical practice), several unanswered questions regarding these drugs remain. A number of ongoing trials have been specifically addressed to answer them, however, the first priority should be to personalize treatment, through clinical or biological markers, in order to better select patients who could benefit from targeted therapy with decreased toxicity.

Elderly patients with stage I-III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitute a peculiar patient population and need specific therapeutic approaches. Limited resections are an attractive alternative for elderly patients with resectable NSCLC because of the potential reduction in postoperative complications. Curative radiation therapy is an acceptable alternative for elderly patients who are unfit for or refuse surgery. Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy is of particular interest for this population because of its favorable tolerance.