Optimal surgical timing and radiotherapy dose for trimodality therapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Increased interval >7 weeks from NCRT to surgery for LA-NSCLC is correlated with worse OS and lobectomy ≤66 days correlated with improved OS. Surgery ≤7weeks may improve tumor control, whereas higher mortality for surgery >66 days may relate to late NCRT manifestations. Neoadjuvant doses of 44-50.4 Gy may minimize risks of radiation-induced lung injury and surgical complications and facilitate surgery within the optimal 7-week interval.