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Radiotherapy is the common traditional treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).In recent years,remarkable advances have been made in immunotherapy,especially the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.How to effectively combine radiotherapy and immunotherapy to maximize the benefit for patients has become a hot topic in clinical research.This article expounds recent research progress in immunotherapy for NSCLC,the effect of radiotherapy on tumor immunology,and the advances and challenges in radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for NSCLC.
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Currently,lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the world.The local control (LC) rate is only 20％-40％ for patients with local advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Hence,reducing the LC rate and enhancing the overall survival (OS) are pivotal research objectives.However,postoperative adjuvant treatment for patients with early NSCLC with chest wall invasion is still controversial.In this article,the research progress on T3 N0-1M0 NSCLC with chest wall invasion was reviewed from the perspectives including anatomical features,types of resection,patterns of failure and postoperative radiotherapy,etc.
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Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety between stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and surgery in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods A total of 227 patients who were initially diagnosed with early-stage NSCLC and with complete clinical data admitted to Henan Cancer Hospital between June 2012 and December 2016 were recruited and assigned into the SABR (n=73) and surgery groups (n=154).Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate and survival comparison was performed using the log-rank test.Chi-square test was adopted to compare the baseline data between two groups.Results All patients completed corresponding treatment.The samples of SABR group and operation group were 74 and 155 cases respectively.The 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates in the SABR and surgery groups were 97.2％,81.9％ and 96.5％,78.2％ (P=0.603),respectively.The 1-year and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates in the SABR and surgery groups were 90.1％,66.9％ and 89.2％,66.9％ (P=0.565),respectively.The 1-year and 3-year locoregional recurrence free survival rates in the SABR and surgery groups were 92.8％,84.0％ and 96.5％,90.8％ (P=0.133),respectively.The 1-year and 3-year distant metastasis-free survival rates in the SABR and surgery groups were 97.2％,75.4％ and 89.2％,69.8％ (P=0.095),respectively.Conclusions SABR and surgery yield similar OS,PFS,locoregional recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival rates in the treatment of early-stage NSCLC.Therefore,SABR is an alternative treatment for patients with early-stage NSCLC.
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Stage Ⅲ A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has high heterogeneity and there are some controversies over the treatment of this disease,especially for patients with stage ⅢA-N2 NSCLC.This article investigates whether preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy can improve the survival of patients with stage ⅢA-N2 NSCLC and evaluates the effect of surgical treatment.
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Conventional CT plays an important role in the diagnosis, staging, radiotherapy target delineation, and prognosis of NSCLC, but it still has many limitations.PET/CT has been widely used in the diagnosis and treamtent of lung cancer.In particular, PET/CT metabolic parameters have great guiding significance in the prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing radiotherapy, and may be superior to many clinical indices.This review summarizes the advances in the application of PET/CT in the prognostic evaluation of NSCLC patients undergoing radiotherapy.
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Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and treatment-related toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)in patients with medically inoperable stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods SBRT was applied to 30 patients, including clinically staged T1 ,T2(≤5cm)or T3(chest wall primary tumors only), N0, M0 ,biopsy-confirmed NSCLC. All patients were precluded from lobotomy because of physical condition or comorbidity. No patients developed tumors of any T-stage in the proximal zone. SBRT was performed with the total dose of 50 Gy to 70 Gy in 10 - 11 fractions during 12 - 15 days. prescription line was set onthe edge of the PTV. Results The follow-up rate was 100%. The number of patients who completed the 1-, and 2-year follow-up were 15, and 10, respectively. All 30 patients completed therapy as planned. The complete response(CR), partial response(PR)and stable disease(SD)rates were 37%, 53% and 3%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 16 months(range,4-36 months), Kaplan-Meier local control at 2 years was 94%. The 2-year overall survival was 84% and the 2-year cancer specific survival was 90%. Seven patients(23%)developed Grade 2 pneumonitis, no grade ＞ 2 acute or late lung toxicity was observed. No one developed chest wall pain. Conclusions It is feasible to deliver 50 Gy to 70 Gy of SBRT in 10 - 11 fractions for medically inoperable patients with stage Ⅰ / Ⅱ NSCLC. It was associated with low incidence of toxicities and provided sustained local tumor control.The preliminary investigation indicated the cancer specific survival probability of SBRT was high. It is necessary to perform similar investigation in a larger number of patients with long-term follow-up.
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Objective To compare positional and volumetric differences of internal gross tumor volume (IGTV) delineated separately by three approaches based on four-dimensional CT (4DCT) for the primary tumor of non-small cell lung cancer (NLCLC). Methods Twenty-one patients with NLCLC underwent big bore 4DCT simulation scan of the thorax. IGTVs of the primary tumor of NSCLC were tumor on the MIP images were delineated to produce IGTVMIP. The position of the target center, the volume of target, the degree of inclusion (DI) and the matching index (MI) were compared reciprocally between IGTV10, IGTVEI+EE and IGTVMIP. Results Average differences between the position of the center of IGTVs on direction of x,y and z axes were less than 1 mm, with no statistically significant difference. The volume of IGTV10 was larger than that of IGTVEI+EE, the difference was statistically significant (t=2.37,P=0.028);the volume of IGTV10 was larger than that of IGTVMIP, but the difference was not statistically significant(t=1.95 ,P=0.065). The ratio of IGTVEI+EE with IGTV10, IGTVMIP with IGTV10 were 0.85±0.08 and 0.92±0.11, respectively. DI of IGTVEI+EE in IGTV10, IGTVMIP in IGTV10 were 84.78% ± 8. 95% and 88.47% ±9.04%. MI between IGTV10 and IGTVEI+EE, IGTV10 and IGTVMIP were 0.85 ±0.09, 0.86±0. 09, respectively. Conclusions The center displacement of the IGTVs delineated separately by the three different techniques based on 4DCT images are not obvious; IGTVEI+EE and IGTVMIP can not replace IGTV10 , however , IGTVMIP is more close to IGTV10 comparing to IGTVEI+EE . The ratio of GTVEI+EE with IGTV10 is correlated to the tumor motion vector. As the vector increases, the ratio of GTVEI+EE with IGTV10decreases, especially for small tumors.
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy, feasibility and safety of CT guided percutaneous 125Ⅰ seeds implantation in elderly patients of stage Ⅰperipheral non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ).MethodsClinical data of 16 elderly peripheral stage Ⅰ NSCLC patients ( 10 squamous carcinoma and 6adenocarcinoma;13 stage ⅠA and 3 stage ⅠB ) who received radioactive 125Ⅰ seeds implantation because of refusal or being unsuited to operation or external radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Prescribed dose was 140 - 160 Gy. Under CT guidance, 125Ⅰ seeds were implanted percutaneously into tumors for interstitial radiotherapy according to treatment plan system. ResultsMean number of 125Ⅰ seeds each patient received was21.1. 12 complete response (CR) and 4 partial response (PR) were achieved. Total response rate ( CR + PR) was 100％. 100％ patients completed 10 to 56 months of follow-up, 15, 13, 8 and 6 patients completed 1-, 2-, 3-and 4-years'follow-up, respectively. The median local progression free time was 14months. The 1-,2-,3-and 4-year overall survival rate were 60％, 54％, 50％ and 33％, respectively (median:14 months). 7 cases died of non-tumor disease and 5 died of metastasis. No severe complications were observed. ConclusionsCT guided 125Ⅰ seeds implantation is a safe, reliable and effective radical treatment method for elderly stage Ⅰ peripheral NSCLC patients, who refuse to or are unsuitable to operation or external radiotherapy.
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ObjectiveTo investigate prognostic factors in Stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT) with PET-CT-based radiotherapy planning. MethodsFifty nine patients with Stage Ⅲ NSCLC treated with radiation therapy of 60 Gy or more were enrolled into this study.The impact of prognostic factors on survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The following-up rate was 98％.Nineteen patients completed 2 years' followed-up. The overall l-year and 2-year survival rate was 66％ and 37％, respectively, with a median survival time of 17 months. At a univariate analysis, cigarette smoking status, T stage, radiation dose, the standardized uptake value, the gross tumor volume and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors ( x2 =7.46,7. 52,8.37,4. 97,5.82,4. 37, P =0. 006,0. 006,0. 004,0. 026,0. 016,0. 037, respectively ).At multivariate analyses, cigarette smoking status, radiation dose, gross tumor volume and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors ( x2 =6. 20, 9. 69, 6. 39, 10. 09, P =0. 013,0. 002, 0. 011,0. 001,respectively). Conclusions Cigarette smoking status, radiation dose, gross tumor volume and clinical stage are significant prognostic factors on survival in patients with Stage Ⅲ NSCLC treated with RT based on PET-CT radiotherapy planning.
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Objective To evaluate the feasibility of active breathing control (ABC) in conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From Feb 2005 to Mar 2008, 29 patients with inoperable NSCLC (stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ) were evaluated. For each patient, two series of CT scans were obtained with free breathing (FB) and ABC system during simulation, respectively. Then two confonnal radiotherapy (CRT) plans were finished based on the two sets of reconstructed images. The pattern of post-inspiratory breath-hold was triggered at 80% of the peak of inspiration curve. The margin of clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) was 0. 6 cm for lesions of the superior lobe, and 1.0 cm for the lesions of middle and inferior lobes. Three to five coplanar fields were performed in conformal radiotherapy. The gross tumor volume (GTV), CTV, PTV, volume of the bilateral lungs (Volume_(lung)), V_(20) and mean lung dose (MLD) of two plans were evaluated by dose-volume histogram (DVH). The World Health Organization criteria and National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria 3.0 (NCI-CTC3.0) scale were used to assess the immediate response and acute side-effect, respectively. Results Significant differences of GTV, CTV, FIN, Volum_(lung), V_(20) and MDL were observed between the two plans (36. 35 cm~3 vs. 31.40 cm~3, t = 9. 70, P <0. 001 ;82. 33 cm~3 vs. 70. 83 cm~3, t = 8. 19, P < 0. 001 ; 230. 73 cm~3 vs. 197.59 cm~3 ,t=5.72,P <0. 001 ;21.66% vs. 18. 76% ,t = 11.16,P <0. 001 ;1329. 07 Gy vs. 1143. 14 Gy, t = 13. 24, P < 0. 001). With ABC, all patients completed their treatment successfully except one patient for financial problems. The median radiation dose to the GTV was 64 Gy (60 -64 Gy). The overall immediate response rate was 64% (18/28). According to the NCI-CTC 3.0, grade 1 and 2 acute radiation-related toxicities occurred in 68% (19/28) and 18% (5/28) of patients for esophagitis, 82% (23/28) and 7% (2/28) for pneumonitis, respectively. Grade 1, 2 and 3 bone marrow suppression occurred in 57% (16/28), 25% (7/28) and 14% (4/28) of patients, respectively. Grade 1 and 2 acute cardiac injuries occurred in 86% (24/28) and 14% (4/28) of patients. Conclusions During CRT for patients with NSCLC, the use of ABC can decrease the radiation dose and acute complications of normal tissues.
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Objective To analyze relation of comprehensive parameters of the dose-volume V5,V10 and V20 with radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with three-dimensional conformal (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).Methods Data of 90 patients with histologically proved NSCLC treated with 3DCRT or IMRT between November 2006 and July 2009 were collected.The median radiation dose of 70 Gy (range, 61 - 80 Gy) was delivered with late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy (LAHRT).The V5 ,V10 ,V20,V30 and mean lung dose (MLD) were calculated from the dose-volume histogram system.The RP was evaluated according to the common toxicity criteria 3.0(CTC 3.0).Results The range of V5 ,V10 and V20 was 36% - 98%, 27% - 78% and 19% - 54%, respectively, with a median value of 66%, 48% and 31%, respectively.The RP of grade 1,2,3,4 and 5 was observed in 29,23,5,1 and 1 patients.The V5,V10 ,V20, contralateral V10, GTV,PTV, and numbers of fields were all significantly associated with RP of ≥grade 1 (χ2=2.04, 2.05, 2.01, 4.62, 6.50, 5.61, 5.61, and P= 0.044, 0.043, 0.047, 0.030,0.010,0.020,0.020).The V5, V10, V20, V30, and MLD were all significantly associated with RP of ≥ grade 2 (χ2= 2.05,2.20,2.96,4.96,5.20, and P = 0.040,0.030,0.000,0.030,0.020).In Logistic regression analysis, GTV was the only factor significantly associated with RP of ≥ grade 1 (χ2= 4.06, P =0.044).The V20 was the only factor significantly associated with RP of ≥grade 2(χ2=9.61,P=0.002).The RP of ≥grade 2 was significantly increased when V20 was more than 31%.The RP of ≥grade 2 was significantly increased when V20, V10 and V5 were more than 31%, 48% and 66%, respectively.The RP of ≥ grade 2 was significantly increased when V20 was more than 31% and V5 was more than 66%.Conclusions The comprehensive parameters combined with V5, V10 and V20 are effective in predicting RP.
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Objective To retrospectively analyze treatment results of radiotherapy for medically inoperable stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ non-small cell lung cancer. Methods Between Jan.2000 and Dec.2005,fifty-eight such patients were enrolled into the database analysis,including 37 with clinical stage Ⅰ and 21 with stage Ⅱ disease.Fifty patients received radiotherapy alone and eight with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Fortythree patients were treated with 3-D conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT)and 15 with conventional radiotherapy.Results The 1-,2-and 3- year overall survival rates were 85%,54%and 30%,and the median survival time was 26.2 months for the whole group.The corresponding figures were 88%,60%,36%and 30.8 months for cancer-specific survival:84%,64%,31%and 30.8 months for Stage Ⅰ disease;81%,47%,28%and 18.8 months for Stage Ⅱ disease;95%,57%,33%and 30.8 months for 3D-CRT group and 53%,44%,24%and 15.3 months for conventional radiotherapy group.By logrank test,tumor volume,pneumonitis of Grade Ⅱ or higher and weight loSS more than 5%showed statistically significant impact on overall survival.Tumor volume was the only independent prognostic factor in Cox muhivariable regression.Pneumonitis and esophagitis of Grade Ⅱ or higher were 16%and 2%,respectively.Age and lung function before treatment had a significant relationship with pneumonitis.Failure included the local recurrence(33%)and distant metastasis(21%).There was no difference between the treatment modalities and failure sites. Conclusions For medically inoperable early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients,tumor volume is the most important prognostic factor for overall survival.The conformal radiotherapy marginally improves the survival.The age and pulmonary function are related to the incidence of treatment induced pneumonitis.
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Objective To evaluate the accuracy, of different threshold segmentation of 18FDG PET for target volume delineation of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and the potential influence on radiotherapy treatment planning. Methods Eight NSCLC patients who had tumor with clear margin on CT scan and the amplitude of tumor movements not more than 5 mm were enrolled. PET scans were carried out at 1 h after intravenous injection of 18FDG with CT image for attenuation revisement. Gross target volume (GTV) delineated on CT image ( GTVCT ) was used as the standard. Then, GTVs were delineated on PET image with three different threshold segmentation of 42% Imax(total) (42% of maximum voxel intensity within the tumor) ,Iback + 20% Imax-back(max) (mean background intensity + 20% of normalized background-subtracted maximum voxel intensity within the tumor) and Iback -20% Imax-back(slice) (mean background intensity + 20% of normalized background-subtracted maximum voxel intensity of each slice within the tumor) ,the corresponding GTV was named as GTV42%, GTV20%max and GTV20%slice. Both the size of GTV42%, GTV20%max, GTV20%slice and GTVCT,and the coverage over GTVCT for each GTV were compared. A three dimensional margin of 1 cm were added to GTVCT, GTV42%, GTV20%max and GTV20%slice to form corresponding PTVCT, PTV42%, PTV20%max and PTV20%slic e. Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy treatment plans were designed based on PTVCT,PTV42% , PTV20%max and PTV20%slice respectively for each patient. The prescription dose of all PTVs was 66 Gy in 33 fractions in 6.6 weeks. Both the volume accepting dose less than 95% of prescription dose within PTVCT ( VPTV ) and the lung V20 were compared among the four plans based on different PTVs. Tumor control probability(TCP) as well as lung normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) were also compared. Resuits Eight patients were enrolled in this study. Median deviation of volume between GTVPET and GTVCT were -54.1% , -21.5 % and 5.3 % for GTV42% , GTV20%max and GTV20%slice, respectively. Median coverage over GTVCT of GTV42% , GTV20%max and GTV20%slice was 45.9% ,78.0% and 95.3% respectively( F = 57.50,P＜0.01). Median 7.5% of VPTV was observed for radiotherapy treatment plan based on PTV42% ,which meant that it might induce median 1% decrease of TCP comparing with that of radiotherapy treatment plan based on PTVCT. Whereas,there were only 1.3% and 0.0% of VPTV for treatment plans based on PTV20%max and PTV20%slice respectively. As far as TCP was concemed, both PTV20%max group and PTV20%slice group were superior to PTV42% group,there was no significant difference among PTV20%max group, PTV20%slice group and PTVCT group. Lung V20 and lung NTCP showed no significant difference among all groups. Conclusions The threshold segmentation of Iback + 20% Imax-back(slice) , being slice specialized, might be an optimal threshold segmentation for target volume delineation of lung caner. Independent of information of target volume provided by CT scan in advance,it is recommended to use for the target volume delineation of NSCLC with atelectasis.
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Objective To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of induction chemotherapy(ICT)followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3 DCRT)plus concurrent weekly paclitaxel for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ NSCLC in favorable conditions were treated with 2 to 4 cycles of carboplatin(AUC=5-6,d1)combined with paclitaxel(175 mg/m2,d1),then followed by weekly paclitaxel(40 mg/m2)and concurrent 3DCRT within 3-4 weeks.The prescription dose of radiotherapy was given as high as possible while total lung V20≤31% and total dose of the spinal cord ≤50 Gy. Results ICT was well tolerated.During the concurrent chemoradiotherapy,the treatment of 4 patients was ended ahead of the schedule because of severe pulmonary and cardiac toxicities:the treatment of 2 patients was delayed for 7 and 12 days because of fatigue.Leucopenia(33/56)was in grade 1-2 except 1 patient in grade 3.Lymphocytopenia was severe(54/56,42 in grade 3).Three patients developed grade 3 acute radiation-induced esophagitis.and 3 developed grade 3-4 radiation-induced pneumonitis.There was one patients each who developed grade 2,3,and 4 late esophagealdamage,respectively.Nine developed grade 2 pulmonary fibrosis.The overall response rate was 69.7%.The 1-year overall survival rate was 72.3%.The 1-year local progression-free survival rate was 62.7%. Conclusions The schedule of ICT followed by weekly paclitaxel and concurrent 3DCRT can be well tolerated by most of the favorable patients with stageⅢ NSCLC.and the toxicity is tolerable. Results of this study are encouraging, though long-term results should be followed up.
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Objective To investigate the consensus and controversies on delineation of radiotherapy target volume for patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods Study questionnaires were designed by radiation oncologists in Peking University School of Oncology. The forms were sent through email to radiation oncologists in 10 radiation departments in China and 2 departments in US in November,2007. The brief introduction and PET/CT digital data of one patient with NSCLC were sent to radiation oncologists in 10 departments in Beijing. On Jan. 12,2008,the case discussion was held by more than 300 radiation oncologists from Beijing,Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Results All receivers of the questionnaire responded . The set up error was 5-7 mm . For patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with radiotherapy concurrently with near full dose chemotherapy,ll out ot 12 responding departments defined planning target volume(PTV) of primary tumor as gross tumor volume(GTV) plus 6-8 nun plus set-up error and respiratory movements ,and only one defined PTV as GTV plus set-up error and respiratory movements. For PTV of the mediastinal lymph nodes in the same patient,9 out of 12 responding departments defined PTV as GTV plus 6-8 mm plus set-up error and respiratory movements,and 3( of China) out of 12 defined PTV as GTV plus set-up error and respiratory movements. Stereotactic body .radiotherapy with high fraction dose was used in 11 out of 12 responding departments with fraction dose varying from 6 to 20 Gy,including 6 of which defined PTV of primary tumor as GTV plus 6-8 mm plus respiratory movements and set-up error, and 5 defined PTV of early stage lung cancer as GTV plus respiratory movements and set-up error. The consensus on delineation of primary tumor of the case discussion was that the appropriate window width and window level were 1600 Houasfield Units(HU) and -600 HU for lung window,and 400 HU and 20 HU for mediastinal window. The controversies was focused on whether the CTV for metastatic lymph nodes should be restricted as GTV plus 6-8 mm or enlarged to enclose all the involved lymph node region. Conclusions PIT of primary tumor and mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes should be GTV plus 6-8 mm plus respiratory movements plus set-up error. The basic controversies of target delineation are focused on the fraction dose and PIT range for early stage NSCLC, and on the possibility of defining the PIT as GTV plus respiratory movements and set-up error when treated with concurrent radiotherapy and full dose chemotherapy for locally advanced NSCLC.
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Objective Prospective comparison was done on concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and se- quential chemo-radiotherapy for unresectable stageⅢnon-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and to evaluate three different regimens of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.Methods Ninety-six such patients were ran- domized into four groups:1.sequential chemo-radiotherapy group received two cycles of induction chemother- apy with 40 mg/m~2 of cisplatin on D 1-3,29-31 and 100 mg/m~2 of etoposide on D 1-3,29-31 before conven- tional radiotherapy,2.concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group 1 received 100 mg/m~2 etoposide on D 1-3 and DDP 40 mg/m~2 on D 1-3,D 29-31,iv.drip,3.concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group 2 received concurrent chemotherapy with 40 mg/m~2 of paclitaxel every Monday during conventional radiotherapy,4.concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group 3 received concurrent chemotherapy with 40 mg/m~2 of paclitaxel every Monday during three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.All patients were irradiated with 2.0 Gy/fraction,5 frac- tions/week,to a total dose of 60-64 Gy.They all received two cycles of consolidation themotherapy with 40 mg/m~2 of cisplatin on D 1-3 and 100 mg/m~2 of etoposide on D 1-3.Results The overa/1 response rate was 67%,71%,71% and 79% for sequential ehemo-radiotherapy group,concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group 1,2 and 3,respectively.There was a significant difference between the concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and sequential chemo-radiotherapy(P＜0.05).The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival rate(OS) was 54%,8% and 4%;71%,17% and 8%;79%,17% and 8%;83%,46% and 13%,respectively for the four groups. The difference among all these groups(P=0.017) was significant.It was also significant between the con- current chemo-radiotherapy group 1 and 3 (P=0.046).The difference of distant metastasis rate among all the groups was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05) also was the difference of toxicity (P＞0.05),but the severe toxicity of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy groups 1 and 2 were higher than the sequential chemo-radio- therapy group and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group 3.Conclusions Better locoregional progression- free survival and overall survival of unresectable stageⅢnon-small cell lung cancer could be achieved by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy as compared with sequential chemo-radiotherapy though at the expense of in- crease in toxicity.With the combination of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and conforrnal radiotherapy,the o- verall survival rate could be much improved with miider toxicity.
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Objective To evaluate the effect and tolerance of late-course three dimensional conformal radiotherapy(LC3DCRT) combined with concurrent chemotherapy for stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods From May 2000 to May 2003,48 such patients were entered into this study.The patient's characteristics were: 38 male and 10 female,with median age of 62 years(range 40 to 74);Karnovsky performance score ≥70;stage ⅢA 16 and ⅢB 32,squamous cell carcinoma 38 and adenocarcinoma 10.The treatment regimen consisted of conventional radiotherapy first(40Gy/20f/4W),followed by 3DCRT(24-30Gy/4-5f/2W) combined with concurrent chemotherapy.Conventional irradiation field encompassed the primary lesion,ipsilateral hilum and mediastinal lymph drainage region.LC3DCRT focused on the primary lesion only,with the 80%-90% isodose curve covering the planning target volume(PTV) and the target dose was prescribed to PTV.Supraclavicular metastatic lymph node was treated by mixed 6MV X-ray and electron beam to a total dose of 65-70Gy.Chemotherapy treatment regimen consisted of isophosfomide(25mg/m~2,d1、8,iv) and cisplatin(30mg/d,d1-3,iv) in the 1st and 5th week.Results Before the end of the second month after treatment,the complete response(CR)and partial response(PR) rate was 16.7% and 75.0%,respectively,with a CR+PR rate of 91.7%.The 1-,2-and 3-year local control and overall survival rates as monitored by the Kaplan-Meier method was 87.5%,50.0%,35.7% and 87.5%,46.7%,28.6%,respectively.All patients completed the planned treatment without interruption.Hematological toxicity and radiation-induced pneumonitis as shown by the WHO staging system were the most common acute toxicities but they were tolerable,with 8.3% of grade 3 leukopenia and 4.2% of grade 3 radiation-induced pneumonitis.The severity of the other acute toxicities such as nausea,fever,hemoglobin decrease,and radiation-induced esophagitis were mainly grade 1 or grade 2.Conclusions Late course three dimensional radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy shows a promising results with tolerable acute toxicities.Long-term survival and late toxicities need further observation.
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The standard treatment for early-stage (Ⅰ-Ⅱ) non-small cell lung cancer is surgical resection. Nevertheless, certain patients will be considered medically or functionally inoperable. For these patients, radiotherapy is the alternative treatment. 5 years tumor specific survival rate of 13%~39% have been achieved. Accumulated experience seems to suggest that higher dose, smaller tumors and earlier stage have a favorable prognosis, and the issue of elective nodal radiotherapy continues to be controversial. Toxicity and quality-of-life issues are also evaluated. Stereotactic radiotherapy has been shown to be a promising treatment with high local control rates and very low toxicity.
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Objective To compare the efficacy between bronchial artery infusion (BAI) chemotherapy plus radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy plus radiation for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods One hundred and twenty-one patients with stage III NSCLC were randomized into treatment group(58 cases) and control group (63 cases). In the treatment group, all patients were administered with BAI for 2-3 sessions, followed by irradiation 4-7 days after BAI. In the control group, altogether 4-6 cycles of standard systemic chemotherapy were given. Radiation was delivered alternately between the cycles of chemotherapy. Results The short-term, long-term survival, median response duration and median survival time were similar between the two groups, except patients with stage Ⅲb who had a higher distant metastasis rate in the treatment group. The major side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy were hematological, gastrointestinal toxicities, pneumonitis, mediastinitis, and esophagitis, respectively. The side effects were milder, better tolerated and did not influence the regimen schedule in the treatment group, as compared with the control group. Seven patients withdrew from the control group, and in 28 patients, the scheduled chemotherapy and radiation was delayed or canceled. Conclusions Bronchial artery infusion plus radiation is more advantageous over systemic chemotherapy plus radiation in less toxicities, better compliance, shorter treatment courses and more cost-effectiveness.
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Objective To evaluate the effect of late course hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (LCHSRT) on locally advanced non small cell lung cancer. Methods From October 1997 to June 1999, 106 patients with locally advanced non small cell lung cancer were randomized into conventional radiotherapy group (CRT) and LCHSRT group. Ninety one patients with complete data were analyzed including 43 patients in CRT group and 48 patients in LCHSRT group. In CRT group, 18 patients were staged Ⅲa and 25 Ⅲb; whereas 19 patients were staged Ⅲa and 29 Ⅲb in LCHSRT group. The initial median dose of 43.5?Gy was given in CRT group to the primary tumor, ipsilateral hilum and mediastinum using AP PA fields with 1.8 2.0?Gy per fraction, then 21.7?Gy was boosted to the residual primary and metastatic regional lymph nodes to the median total dose of 65.2?Gy. In LCHSRT group, after the first 44.4?Gy to the primary tumor, ipsilateral hilar region and mediastinum by AP PA fields with a dose fraction of 1.8 2.0?Gy, noncoplanar arc hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was delivered to the residual primary and metastatic lymph nodes to the total dose of (22.8?5.5)?Gy with 4 7?Gy per fraction treated every other day. Results The radiation pneumonitis rates were 11.6% and 14.6% in CRT group and LCHSRT group, respectively. The radiation pulmonary fibrosis rates diagnosed by CT scan 6 months after radiotherapy were 48.8% and 66.7% in CRT group and LCHSRT group, respectively. The complete regression (CR) rates evaluated by CT scan 3 months after treatment in CRT and LCHSRT group were 30.2% and 63.5%, respectively ( P