The invention relates to a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising paclitaxel and an albumin for use in a method of treating NSCLC in an individual, wherein the method further comprises administering a platinum-based agent to the individual, and wherein treatment is based upon the NSCLC having one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of (i) the individual being at least about 70 years old, (ii) differential levels of caveolin-1 (CAV-1), (iii) differential levels of SPARC, (iv) differential levels of hypoxia markers, (v) differential levels of tumor acidity, (vi) differential levels of gp60, (vii) differential levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), (viii) differential levels of S phase kinase-associated protein (Skp2), (ix) differential loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), (x) differential Kras mutations, (xi) differential methylation of promoter region of tumor-related genes, and (xii) differential albumin uptake.