Hypofractionated radiation therapy in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Hypofractionation is the current choice for radiation therapy for patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the authors' institute.


METHODS
In this nonrandomized study, three hypofractionated radiation schedules (40-Gy split course; 30-32 Gy in 6 fractions and 24 Gy in 3 fractions) are evaluated in 301 patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC:


RESULTS
Patients with Stage IIIA disease treated with a 40-Gy split course had longer survival (P < 0.005) and a lower local relapse rate (P < 0.01), but a higher distant failure rate (P < 0.01) than those receiving 24-32 Gy. Survival for patients with Stage IIIA disease treated with 40 Gy at 1, 2, and 5 years was 47%, 22%, and 7%, respectively. For patients with Stage IIIB disease, the radiation scheme used did not correlate with survival and relapse rates. Survival at 1, 2, and 5 years was 30%, 9%, and 2%, respectively. The hypofractionated radiation schemes were well tolerated, and no severe complications were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with Stage IIIA disease, 40-Gy split-course radiation therapy yields survival rates comparable to those achieved with conventional radiation therapy. In patients with Stages IIIB and IV NSCLC, 24 Gy in 3 weekly fractions yields survival rates comparable to those achieved with higher total doses given in more fractions.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
B J
BJ
Slotman
K H
KH
Njo
A
A
de Jonge
O W
OW
Meijer
A B
AB
Karim
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome