Fitness for radical therapy in lung cancer patients
Symposium Chairs: R. M. Huber (Muenich, Germany), D. Van Raemdonck (Leuven, Belgium)
Aims: This symposium aims to present the main conclusions drawn up by the task force ?Fitness before radical therapy for lung cancer?. Eight topics will be presented, to offer ERS members an overview of the task force work. Emphasis will be put on the most recent advances in this field, such as the predictive value of the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL,CO), the validated and future methods to calculate predicted functional post-operative values and the place of low-technology exercise tests and rehabilitation before lung resection. The potential need for selection criteria for definitive radio-chemotherapy will also be discussed. Finally, the algorithm(s) for the assessment of the cardiopulmonary reserves elaborated by the task force will be introduced, as well as recommendations about who should treat lung cancer patients.