ABSTRACT
Short-term treatment outcomes for 15 patients with stage IB-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were present- ed. The patients were treated with thermochemoradiothrapy (TCRT). Hyperfractionated radiation therapy at a total dose of 40 Gy (1.3 Gy/fraction, twice daily, 5 days per week) was given concurrently with 2 courses of chemotherapy with pa- clitaxel (175 mg/m², i.v, on day 1) and carboplatin (AUC 6, i.v, on day 1). Ten sessions of local hyperthermia were deliv- ered using the Celsius TCS electro-hyperthermia system. Local hyperthermia was administered twice a week, 2 hours before radiotherapy or immediately after administration of chemotherapeutic agents, for 45-60 min at 41-43 °C. The overall, histologically confirmed, response rate was 93% with 3 (20%) patients achieving a complete response and 11 (73.3%) with a partial response. Stable disease was seen in 1 case (6.7%). No disease progression was found. Chemoradiotherapy and local hyperthermia were well tolerated. Twelve (88%) patients underwent radical surgery (RO): 8 (66.7%) lobectomy and 4 (33.3%) pneumonectomy (TCRT as an option of preoperative treatment). There were no postoperative complications and deaths. Radiation therapy was continued up to the total dose of 60-66 Gy in 3 cases (inoperable patients), and the number of local hyperthermia sessions was increased to 12-14 (TCRT alone). During the follow-up period of 12-14 months, no evidence of disease progression was observed. A prelimi- nary analysis of data obtained indicate that TCRT for patients with NSCLC is well tolerated, results in tumor regression, expand the indications for surgical treatment and demonstrates the encouraging results.
