Treatment of Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed with surgery may include the following:

• Chemotherapy followed by surgery.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery.
• Immunotherapy, such as nivolumab, and chemotherapy followed by surgery.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• Surgery followed by targeted therapy with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, such as osimertinib.
• Surgery followed by immunotherapy, such as atezolizumab.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed with surgery may include the following:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, such as durvalumab.
• External radiation therapy alone.
• Internal radiation therapy or laser surgery, as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.

For more information about supportive care for signs and symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, see Cardiopulmonary Syndromes.

Non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus, often called Pancoast tumor, begins in the upper part of the lung and spreads to nearby tissues such as the chest wall, large blood vessels, and spine. Treatment of Pancoast tumors may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery.
• Radiation therapy alone.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Some stage IIIA non-small cell lung tumors that have grown into the chest wall may be completely removed. Treatment of chest wall tumors may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Surgery and radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.