The prognostic value of decrease in prognostic nutritional index in stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients during curative thoracic radiotherapy

Background: Curative thoracic radiotherapy (CTRT) with concurrent chemotherapy has been considered as standard treatment approach for stage-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The hematological and esophageal toxicities that have been encountered during CTRT would affect the immunonutritional status of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the change in pre- and post-treatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in stage-III NSCLC patients. Methods: Eighty seven consecutive stage III NSCLC patients� data were collected. Pre-radiotherapy (RT) and post-RT PNI values were calculated and the impact of prognostic value of PNI change on overall survival (OS) was evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A cutoff value of PNI change was obtained by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The cutoff value was found to be a 22% decrease in PNI by ROC curve analysis in terms of effect on OS. The median OS of low and high PNI decrease groups were 22.5 and 16.5 months respectively (P = 0,001). In univariate and multivariate analyses PNI decrease of ? 22% was found to be an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.012) and hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)= 2.05 (1.16�62). Conclusion: The PNI change would be a convenient parameter to assess the immunonutrition

Relevance of multi?disciplinary team approach in diagnosis and management of Stage III NSCLC

Lung cancer is reported as the leading cause of cancer?related mortality worldwide. Non?small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes 80%�% of all lung cancers. Diagnosis of NSCLC is a complex multistep process. The prognosis of NSCLC is poor as most of the patients are presented at the metastatic stage. The management of these patients needs the expertise of different specialists. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising specialists from different disciplines has a substantial role in improving outcomes in these patients. This is feasible through extensive discussions, accurate evaluation of patients, reviewing medical records, implementing ideal treatment strategies, and merging local treatments with systemic treatment concepts. Therefore, the MDT approach for stage III NSCLC management can enable early treatment initiation, optimal treatment modalities, and reduce healthcare expenditure. Studies have shown that MDT can provide multimodality care facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of stage III NSCLC, resulting in survival benefit of these patients. Thus, it is imperative to collate scientific evidence to get an insight into the MDT approach in advanced NSCLC treatment. This review aims to summarize the impact of MDT on treatment rates, survival outcome, treatment guideline adherence, and quality of life (QoL) of stage III NSCLC patients.

Induction chemotherapy for unresectable Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer may improve survival of induction chemotherapy responders as predicted by elevated levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin fragment 19 and classification as stage N3 cancer

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate patients with unresectable Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving radiotherapy with induction and concurrent pemetrexed or docetaxel plus cisplatin (PP/DP) chemotherapy and to identify the subgroup most likely to benefit from induction chemotherapy (IC). Subjects and Methods: Patients with unresectable measurable Stage III NSCLC received two cycles of PP/DP IC followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy at a dose of 60–66 Gy. Statistical Analysis Used: Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival; logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors for response to IC, and the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the independent factors predicting response. Results: Eighty patients were included; the median survival time (MST) was 22.1 months. Partial response (PR) to IC was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. For patients in the PR and stable disease groups, the MST was 36.7 and 19.5 months, respectively. The independent predictors of PR to IC included classification as stage N3 cancer, baseline carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels >10 ng/ml, and cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA21-1) levels >6 ng/ml. With each additional independent predictor, the likelihood of having have PR to IC increased. Conclusions: Radiotherapy with induction and concurrent PP/DP chemotherapy is feasible for patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC. IC may improve the survival of IC responders, as predicted by elevated CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels and classification as stage N3 cancer. Additional randomized trials on IC may consider these predictors to tailor individualized treatments

Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy for Patients with Pathological Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Curative Resection / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for patients with pathological stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2000 to 2007, 88 patients diagnosed as having pathologic stage III NSCLC after curative resection were treated with PORT. There were 80 patients with pathologic stage IIIA and eight patients with pathologic stage IIIB in the AJCC 6th staging system. The majority of patients (n=83) had pathologic N2 disease, and 56 patients had single station mediastinal LN metastasis. PORT was administered using conventional technique (n=76) or three-dimensional conformal technique (n=12). The median radiation dose was 54 Gy (range, 30.6 to 63 Gy). Thirty-six patients received chemotherapy. Radiation pneumonitis was graded by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group system, and other treatment-related toxicities were assessed by CTCAE v 3.0. RESULTS: Median survival was 54 months (range, 26 to 77 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates were 45% and 38%, respectively. The number of metastatic lymph nodes was associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.037; p-value=0.040). The 5-year locoregional recurrence free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) rates were 88% and 48%, respectively. Multiple stations of mediastinal lymph node metastasis was associated with decreased DFS and DMFS rates (p-value=0.0014 and 0.0044, respectively). Fifty-one relapses occurred at the following sites: 10 loco-regional, 41 distant metastasis. Grade 2 radiation pneumonitis was seen in three patients, and symptoms were well tolerated with anti-tussive medication. Grade 2 radiation esophagitis was seen in 11 patients. There were no grade 3 or more severe complications associated with PORT. CONCLUSION: Our retrospective data show that PORT for pathological stage III NSCLC is a safe and feasible treatment and could improve loco-regional control. The number of metastatic lymph nodes and stations of mediastinal lymph node metastasis were analyzed as prognostic factors. Furthermore, efforts are needed to reduce distant metastasis, which is a major failure pattern of advanced stage NSCLC.

Concomitant Boost Radiotherapy for Stage 3 Non - Small Cell Lung Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment outcome and side effects of accelerated radiotherapy (RT) using concomitant boost for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Between April 1991 and December 1994, 102 patients with stage III NSCLC who had the favorable prognostic factors by CALGB criteria, were treated with concomitant boost radiotherapy. Patients were treated with standard large fields to 54 Gy in 6 weeks. The boost treatment was administered concomitantly during the last 2 weeks with a dose of 13 Gy in 10 fractions. The interfraction interval was at least 6 hours. The total tumor dose was 66-70 Gy, given over 6 weeks. RESULTS: With 30 months median follow-up period for survivors, median survival was 15 months with 2 and 3-year overall survival rates of 34% and 19%, respectively. Thirty patients (29%) who had achieved complete remission after RT showed significantly better 2-year survival rates than those without complete remission (58% vs 22%, p 0.001). Local failure and distant metastases as the first or only failure occurred in 40 (44%) and 13 (14%), respectively, and ultimate local and distant failure rates were 45% and 29%, respectively. Although Grade IV esophageal complication of T-E fistula was observed in one patient, most patients with pulmonary complication showed mild, transient radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the treatrnent of stage III NSCLC with concomitant boost RT may improve survival rates without enhanced radiation induced toxicity compared with conventional RT. Further investigation of dose escalation by conformal radiotherapy of combining chemotherapy and accelerated RT is warranted.