Accelerated induction therapy and resection for poor prognosis stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Induction therapy and resection may improve the survival of patients with poor prognosis stage III non-small cell lung cancer, at the cost of significant treatment prolongation. The purpose of this study was to assess toxicity, response, and survival of an accelerated induction regimen and resection in poor prognosis stage III non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty-two surgically staged patients with poor prognosis stage III non-small cell lung cancer received 11 days of induction treatment consisting of 96 hours of continuous chemotherapy infusions of cisplatin (20 mg.m-2.day-2), 5 fluorouracil (1,000 mg.m-2.day-2), and etoposide (75 mg.m-2.day-2) concurrent with accelerated fractionation radiation therapy (1.5 Gy twice a day, to a dose of 27 Gy). Induction was followed in 4 weeks by resection. Postoperatively, a second course of continuous chemotherapy and concurrent accelerated fractionation radiation therapy (postoperative dose 13 to 36 Gy) was given.


RESULTS
Despite some degree of induction toxicity in all patients there was only one induction death (2.4%). A clinical partial response was seen in 24 patients (57%). Thirty-six patients (86%) underwent thoracotomy, and resection was possible in 33 (79%). Pathologic downstaging was seen in 17 patients (40%), and 2 patients (5%) had no residual carcinoma at operation. There were 11 postoperative complications (31%) and 4 postoperative deaths (11%). Thirteen patients (31%) are alive and disease-free, 24 (57%) have persistent disease or have recurred (15 distant, 5 locoregional, 4 both), and 9 patients are alive with disease. The median survival is 21 months and the 2-year Kaplan-Meier survival is 43%, with no differences identified between stages IIIA and IIIB patients (p = 0.63).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that accelerated induction therapy and resection in poor prognosis stage III non-small cell lung cancer (1) is toxic, with a 12% treatment mortality; (2) is effective with a 79% resection rate and 40% pathologic downstaging rate; (3) provides excellent local control; (4) may prolong survival; and (5) is of value in stage IIIB as well as stage IIIA patients.
Rice
T W
TW
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Adelstein
D J
DJ
Koka
A
A
Tefft
M
M
Kirby
T J
TJ
Van Kirk
M A
MA
Taylor
M E
ME
Olencki
T E
TE
Peereboom
D
D
Budd
G T
GT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013908:Thoracotomy
D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil