Recommendations for research

The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research.

1 Immunotherapy after multimodality treatment

What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of immunotherapy in people with stage IIIA-N2 non‑small‑cell lung cancer following multimodality treatment including surgery?

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on management of operable stage IIIA–N2 non-small-cell lung cancer.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review C: Management of NSCLC stage IIIA-N2.

2 Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy compared with surgery

What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) compared with surgery (for example, sublobar, wedge resection, lobectomy) for people with non-small-cell lung cancer (stage I and IIA) in whom surgery is suitable?

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on surgery and radiotherapy with curative intent for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: Radiotherapy with curative intent for NSCLC.

3 Routine contrast-enhanced brain CT

What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of routinely performing contrast-enhanced brain CT at the time of initial diagnosis and/or staging CT?

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on brain imaging for people having treatment with curative intent.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: Brain imaging for people with NSCLC selected for treatment with curative intent.

4 Prophylactic cranial irradiation compared with routine MRI follow-up in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of prophylactic cranial irradiation compared with routine MRI follow-up in people with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer without brain metastases?

For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale on thoracic radiotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation in SCLC.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review G: Thoracic radiotherapy for extensive stage SCLC and evidence review H: Prophylactic cranial irradiation for extensive stage SCLC.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)