DNA Methylation Signals Early Metastases in NSCLC Patients

Among patients with stage 1 lung cancer who underwent resection with curative intent, methylation status of four genes was associated with risk for recurrence.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Formerly, most patients presented with disease that was locally advanced or metastatic, so treatment was palliative and offered only a modest survival advantage. Now, a growing number of patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are presenting with early-stage, immediately resectable, potentially curable disease. However, despite optimal and early surgical treatment, many patients die from recurrent metastatic disease. Patients who present with T1N0M0 (stage IA) tumors have an estimated 5-year survival of only 70%.

The standard of care for patients with resected stage II–IIIA NSCLC includes adjuvant chemotherapy, based on the results of three phase III studies of cisplatin-b…

Reviewing Author

Jyoti D. Patel, MD