Commentary: Expanding the Surgical Indications in Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with distant metastasis has been regarded as a contraindication for surgical resection, but many papers have reported survival benefits of primary tumor resection in patients with single distant metastasis, such as brain or adrenal metastasis [1]. The Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines also recommend surgical treatment with therapeutic intent for patients with stage IV NSCLC who have metastasis to the brain or adrenal glands [2]. In addition to single distant metastasis, recent clinical trials have also shown that local consolidative therapy for primary and metastatic lesions (mainly stereotactic body radiotherapy [SBRTx]) could prolong survival in patients with oligometastatic disease [3].