title: Concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): long-term results of a phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and activity of concurrent radiochemotherapy in patients with Stage III nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients were treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HfxRT) using 1.2 Gy bid, to a total of 69.6 Gy and concurrent low-dose daily chemotherapy (CHT) consisting of 30 mg of carboplatin (CBDCA) and 30 mg of etoposide (VP-16) given Mondays to Fridays during the RT course. On Saturdays and Sundays during the RT course, CBDCA and VP-16 were both given in a daily dose of 100 mg each.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median survival time was 25 months, and 3- and 5-year survival rates were 34% and 29%, respectively. Median relapse-free survival time was 22 months, and 3- and 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 32%, and 29%, respectively. Median time to local recurrence was 24 months and 3- and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates were 41% and 38%, respectively. Median time to distant metastasis was 28 months, and 3- and 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rates were 44% and 44%, respectively. Acute high-grade (> or = 3) toxicity was mostly hematological (30%), esophageal (15%), and bronchopulmonary (12%). Late high-grade toxicity was infrequent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combined radiochemotherapy regimen produced promising results and warrants further studies with more patients before testing it in a prospective randomized fashion.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Kragujevac, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeremic
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibamoto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milicic
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagovic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milisavljevic
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013997:Time Factors