Palma DA, et al. - In this phase 2 study of 40 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, researchers evaluated the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). Further, they sought the oncologic and toxicity outcomes after a combined approach of neoadjuvant SABR followed by surgery. They studied patients 18 years or older with T1T2N0M0 NSCLC and good performance status with adequate pulmonary reserve to undergo surgical resection. Following SABR for early-stage NSCLC, the pCR rate was 60%, lower than theorized. Patients undergoing the combined approach had comparable toxic effects to those undergoing a series of surgery alone, with no perioperative mortality. The treatment seems to be safe, however, additional interventions are required to lower the regional and distant recurrence risks.