Local control of locally advanced (N2) non-small cell lung cancer: when and how?

In patients with locally advanced (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgery alone results in dismal prognosis despite of its localized presentation by definition (1). As most locally advanced lung cancers are large and centrally located, extensive resection is expected for complete tumor removal. The incidence of postoperative complications is generally high, and functional impairments are often encountered after extensive surgery.