Although maintenance therapy is currently a standard part of the management of metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC, the evidence base supporting this practice is much weaker in squamous cell lung cancer. As such, 
Dr Ramalingam and 70% of oncologists do not routinely use this treatment strategy. However, Dr Wakelee believes that the concept of continually suppressing the disease versus giving a systemic treatment holiday is the same whether dealing with squamous or nonsquamous disease and therefore often uses gemcitabine maintenance after gemcitabine/carboplatin induction.

Coudert B et al. Survival benefit with erlotinib maintenance therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) according to response to first-line chemotherapy. Ann Oncol 2012;23(2):388-94. Abstract

Neal JW et al. The SATURN trial: The value of maintenance erlotinib in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Future Oncol 2010;6(12):1827-32. Abstract

Perol M et al. Randomized, phase III study of gemcitabine or erlotinib maintenance therapy versus observation, with predefined second-line treatment, after cisplatin-gemcitabine induction chemotherapy in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 2012;30(28):3516-24. Abstract