Future direction of chemotherapy for lung cancer at outpatient clinics

In Japan, chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer in outpatient clinics has become widespread. Numbers of patients treated with chemotherapy have increased according to an increase in the incidence of lung cancer, an improvement of prognosis due to the development of new remedies, and increased health insurance medical fees. Under these conditions, the establishment of a standardized system, cooperation among all co-medical staffs, the development of safe and effective treatment regimens, and the implementation of clinical trials to establish new evidence are urgent issues. The final goal is to provide safe, trustworthy, comfortable and effective chemotherapy in outpatient clinics.