The management of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer has changed considerably in the last decade. Chemotherapy prolongs survival and improves quality of life in patients with a good performance status and appears to improve disease-related symptoms in patients with a lower performance status. Platinum-based doublets remain the standard regimen, but nonplatinum combinations are reasonable alternatives. Newer agents with novel mechanisms of action have opened new areas of clinical research and are likely to further improve the outcome of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.