Improving health-related quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer given current treatment options: 2010 Update

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for over 80% of all lung carcinomas, with the majority of patients presenting with late-stage disease. Selection of an appropriate therapy depends on the stage of disease, with treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer often aimed at palliation of symptoms and improving the well-being of patients. Health-related quality of life has been largely ignored as an endpoint in clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer, but there is increasing acceptance by clinicians and regulatory authorities that alleviation of symptoms and improved health-related quality of life should be carefully considered. This article discusses current approaches to measuring health-related quality of life. This is followed by a brief review of some of the current treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer and their effect on health-related quality of life.