NSCLC stands for non-small cell lung cancer, which is one of two main types of lung cancer. About eight to nine out of 10 patients with lung cancer have NSCLC1. The cells in the different subtypes of lung cancer differ in size, shape, and other factors¹.

• Small cell lung cancer—About 13% of lung cancers are small cell lung cancers. This type tends to spread quickly². Although small cell lung cancer typically is not operable, it tends to respond better to chemotherapy than non-small cell lung cancer.
• Non-small cell lung cancer—Most lung cancers (about 87%) are non-small cell lung cancers. Non-small cell lung cancer is classified as squamous or non-squamous. This type spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer².

If you have NSCLC, your treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or some combination of these₃. Your treatment will depend on how advanced your cancer is, as well as other factors³.

Knowing what kind of cancer a patient has is key to optimal treatment^4-6. The treatments for squamous and non-squamous NSCLC can be very different. It’s important for your doctor to know exactly which kind of cancer you have.

1. Overview: lung cancer―non-small cell: what is non-small cell lung cancer? American Cancer Society Web site. Updated November 11, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009.
2. What you need to know about lung cancer. National Cancer Institute Web site. Accessed March 2, 2009.
3. Detailed guide: lung cancer―non-small cell: how is non-small cell lung cancer treated? American Cancer Society Web site. Updated October 24, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009.
4. Scagliotti GV, Parikh P, von Pawel J, et al. Phase III study comparing cisplatin plus gemcitabine with cisplatin plus pemetrexed in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol.
   2008;26(21):3543-3551.
5. Johnson DH, Fehrenbacher L, Novotny WF, et al. Randomized phase II trial comparing bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel with carboplatin and paclitaxel alone in previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(11):2184-2191.
6. Clark GM, Zborowski DM, Santabarbara P, et al; National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Smoking history and epidermal growth factor receptor expression as predictors of survival benefit from erlotinib for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer in the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group study BR.21. Clin Lung Cancer.
   2006;7(6):389-394.