title: A preoperative alternating chemotherapy and radiotherapy program for patients with stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of a preoperative alternating chemotherapy and radiotherapy program followed by surgery in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The tumor response, resection rate, tumor/lymph node downstaging, and survival were also evaluated. The positive predictive value (PPV) in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node metastasis was 81% using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with short inversion-time inversion recovery (STIR) technique (STIR-MRI) on our criteria. Eligible patients had clinical N2 lesions (stage IIIA) and a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0-2. The treatment program consisted of two courses of preoperative cisplatin, vindesine, and ifosfamide; alternating with radiotherapy, including two courses of 20 Gy radiation. Surgery was performed within 4 weeks after the treatment. Twenty-two patients with stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC (20 men and two women, age 35-71 years) were enrolled into the study. Hematologic and other toxicities were within an acceptable range. Surgery was not indicated for two patients because of distant metastasis; one patient with renal dysfunction and one with pancytopenia during this treatment underwent surgery subsequently. The clinical response rate was 50% (partial response in 11/22). Definitive surgery was indicated for 18 patients resulting in 17 patients with complete resection and one exploratory thoracotomy. A pathologic complete response of the primary tumor occurred in 41% of the patients (seven of 17; without residual tumor), whereas 58% (ten of 17) were pathologic N0. The median survival was 33 months with an actuarial 4-year survival rate of 33% in 17 patients with complete resection and 30 months with 28% 4-year survival rate in all entered patients. A randomized phase-III study using this approach for stage IIIA (clinical N-2 disease) is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, 830-0011, Kurume, Japan. stakam@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rikimaru
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsuoka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayabuchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oizumi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirouzu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine; D007069:Ifosfamide