Comparison between or =60 Gy Once-Daily Thoracic Irradiation for Patients with Limited-stage Smallcell Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To review the treatment outcomes of patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) receiving daily thoracic irradiation (RT) to > or = 60 Gy. Materials and M ethods The records of patients treated with RT for LS-SCLC between 1990 and 2002 at Pusan National University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-six patients were identified who had received once-daily 1.8~2 Gy fractions from 40 Gy to 63 Gy. All patients received sequential chemotherapy and then RT. These patients were arbitrary divided two groups according to thoracic radiation dose, or =60 Gy. The time to death was assessed using actuarial method. RESULTS: Two- and 5-year overall survival rates for or =60 Gy group was 32% and 41% and 14% and 21%, respectively (p=1.6). Median overall survival for or =60 Gy group was 17 and 20 months, respectively. Two case of acute Grade 3 esophagitis and one case of acute Grade 4 pneumonitis developed in > or =60 Gy group. The first relapse sites of chest for or =60 Gy group were 9/15 (60%) and 3/8 (38%), respectively (p=0.4). CONCLUSION: > or =60 Gy once-daily thoracic radiotherapy was generally well tolerated and moderately improves local control compared to <60 Gy in patients with LS_ SCLC who are treated with combination chemotherapy