Computed tomography-guided frameless stereotactic radiotherapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer: a 5-year experience.
OBJECTIVE
Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is highly effective for brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). As such, primary lesions of NSCLC may also be treated effectively by similar focal high-dose SRT.


METHODS
Between October 1994 and June 1999, 50 patients with pathologically proven T1-2N0 M0 NSCLC were treated by CT-guided frameless SRT. Of these, 21 patients were medically inoperable and the remainder were medically operable but refused surgery. In most patients, SRT was 50-60 Gy in 5-10 fractions for 1-2 weeks. Eighteen patients also received conventional radiotherapy of 40-60 Gy in 20-33 fractions before SRT.


RESULTS
With a median follow-up period of 36 months (range 22-66), 30 patients were alive and disease free, 3 were alive with disease, 6 had died of disease, and 11 had died intercurrently. Local progression was not observed on follow-up CT scans in 47 (94%) of 50 patients. The 3-year overall survival rate was 66% in all 50 patients and 86% in the 29 medically operable patients. The 3-year cause-specific survival rate of all 50 patients was 88%. No definite adverse effects related to SRT were noted, except for 2 patients with a minor bone fracture and 6 patients with temporary pleural pain.


CONCLUSIONS
SRT is a very safe and effective treatment for Stage I NSCLC. Additional studies involving a larger patient population and longer follow-up periods are warranted to assess this new treatment for early-stage lung cancer.
Uematsu
M
M
Department of Radiation Oncology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. uematsu@me.ndmc.ac.jp
Shioda
A
A
Suda
A
A
Fukui
T
T
Ozeki
Y
Y
Hama
Y
Y
Wong
J R
JR
Kusano
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome