What new lung cancer treatments are available?

Alongside the broad range of standard treatments—surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—to combat cancers at every stage, these pioneering new approaches are available:

• minimally invasive (VATS) surgery for lung cancer;
• photodynamic therapy;
• laser therapy;
• stenting;
• new highy focused radiation therapy;
• targeted biologic agents;
• clinical trials, including what is now referred to as "targeted therapy";
        these include specially designed compounds that attach to specific
        areas of the abnormal cells to either prevent them from dividing or
        lead to their death; 
• molecular screening and the genetic profiling of tumors.

There are more minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose as well as resect lung cancer. In patients who cannot tolerate having a whole lobe removed, lesser resections may be feasible with placement of brachymesh to reduce local recurrence. There are several new chemotherapy drugs available that target tumors with specific mutations. Stereotactic radiosurgery is also available to provide high dose radiation focused at the tumor. Radiosurgery can play a role in patients who would not tolerate surgery.