title: Lung function and radiation response.
abstract: This study investigated whether impaired respiratory function affected the response to radiotherapy. A prospective study was performed in which lung function, arterial oxygen and haemoglobin concentration were examined, before treatment with radical radiotherapy, in 141 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer. The findings were considered to reflect the physiological conditions present at the time of radiotherapy and these were related to acute normal tissue reactions and tumour control. Although 53% of the patients showed some impairment of lung function and 47% demonstrated a haemoglobin oxygen saturation below the normal range, oxygen partial pressure was below expected levels in fewer patients (27%) and total arterial oxygen content was below normal in only 12% of patients. No correlation was found between the tests performed and the severity of acute morbidity or with local tumour control. In the patients with carcinoma of the bronchus, there was a trend for incomplete tumour control to be associated with a lower haemoglobin level, but this did not reach statistical significance. In patients selected for curative radiotherapy, lung function would not appear to be an important factor influencing the response of normal tissues or tumour to irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment, Northwood, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dische
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crocombe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen