Observation on three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for 36 elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and adverse effects of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) for elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods From August 2001 to October 2006,36 patients over 70 years old with NSCLC were treated with 3D-CRT.Leibinger treatment planning system was used for drafting radiotherapy plan,the prescription dose was 40-80Gy(median,60Gy).Twenty-four patients received hypofractionated radiation every two days in 8-12 fractions at a dose of 5-8Gy per fraction;12 patients accepted conventional fractionated radiation with 30-40 fractions during 6 to 7 weeks.With median follow-up time of 11 months(range,5-54 mon.),tumor volume response rate,1-year and 2-year survival rate were investigated,adverse effects of the treatment were also recorded in present research.Results Of the 36 patients,clinical symptoms were improved in 33 cases,while no changes were observed in 3 cases.According to follow-up CT results 2-3 months after radiotherapy,8 patients showed complete response(CR),22 cases with partial response(PR),with the overall tumor response rate of 83.33%(30/36).In this group,1-year and 2-year survival rate was 66.67% and 36.11% with median survival time of 8 months(range,2-53 months).No patients suffered from serious adverse effects.Conclusions 3D-CRT was an effective and safe treatment for elderly patients with NSCLC,which could raise the survival rate and improve the quality of life with little adverse effects.