How to reduce radiotherapy-induced lung injury in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeutic methods of lung cancer, whereas the lung injury induced by radiotherapy restricts the quality of life and clinical efficacy. It is a challenge to improve the clinical efficacy and reduce lung injury.Based upon clinical experience, certain measures can be taken to alleviate the lung injury after thoracic radiotherapy. The severity and complications of lung cancer and the concurrent chemoradiotherapy-induced injury should be comprehensively understood to establish individual therapeutic strategy. The diagnostic skills, biological characteristics of tumors, the diffusion, metastasis and recurrence of tumors and lymphatic drainage should be mastered and considered in the formulation of treatment target areas to minimize unnecessary radiation for every 1 mm. During the formulation and evaluation of radiotherapy plans, we should understand the biological characteristics of the lung and lung injury repair and stick to the principle of high-dose radiation for small-volume lung rather than low-dose radiation for large-volume lung. A better treatment plan should be established to reduce every 1% of lung DVH as possible even at the expanse of conformality. Simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy and two-phase radiotherapy are employed to distinguish normal tissues from subclinical tumors from the dose and fractioned dose aspects, which further enhance the tumor control and alleviate lung injury. The lung ventilation function is lost at a dose of 20 Gy or higher. Extensive attention should be delivered to reduce the radiation dose to the lung, especially for the repair of non-functional lung fibrosis. Precise and individualized radiotherapy should be adopted to reduce unnecessary radiation and protect the normal lung tissues, which improve the clinical efficacy and enhance the quality of life.