Nonsurgical Therapy for Early-Stage Lung Cancer

Treatment options for medically inoperable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and percutaneous image guided thermal ablation. SABR is delivered over 1-5 sessions of highly conformal ablative radiation with excellent tumor control. Toxicity is depending on tumor location and anatomy but is typically mild. Studies evaluating SABR in operable NSCLC are ongoing. Thermal ablation can be delivered via radiofrequency, microwave, or cryoablation, with promising results and modest toxicity. We review the data and outcomes for these approaches and discuss ongoing studies.