She adds that the findings may provide insights on whether oligoprogression, which is still a novel concept, is a unique state or temporary state in which tumors are simply progressing at different rates. "I think it is important for patients to have a multidisciplinary-based care, even for those with metastatic disease. Having a team of different specialists caring for the patients will increase their access to more care options."

SBRT is routinely used in the palliative setting of all cancers, including bone, spine, lung and other metastatic lesions. Applying SBRT does not require patients to change treatments as it only targets drug-resistant lesions. Additionally a prior study from 2018 backs up the use of SBRT for lung cancer treatment, as it shows that applying it for medically operable and inoperable early-stage lung cancer was associated with favorable primary tumor control and local control rates. It suggests that SBRT could be an alternative to surgery, which has the highest cure rates but is also risky and challenging for even operable lung cancer patients.

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