ACR appropriateness criteria on nonsurgical treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer: poor performance status or palliative intent.
Radiation therapy (RT) plays a major role in the definitive treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who are unable to tolerate surgery. Radiation therapy alone is used primarily for early-stage (stages I and II) patients. Higher doses of RT (>65 Gy) seem to improve outcomes, and modern techniques such as stereotactic body RT have been very promising. For patients with locally advanced disease (stages IIIA and IIIB), concurrent chemotherapy and RT remains the standard of care. However, many patients cannot tolerate the regimen because of its toxicity. Sequential chemotherapy followed by RT is used in these situations. Radiation therapy alone is used for the rare patient who cannot tolerate the use of any chemotherapy because of comorbid conditions. Palliative external-beam RT is useful for patients with metastatic disease, causing symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, postobstructive pneumonia, and pain. Hypofractionation has been attempted as a means to provide more rapid and convenient symptom relief, but results from clinical trials are conflicting on whether it is an improvement over standard palliative fractionation. Endobronchial brachytherapy provides relief for patients with endobronchial lesions causing obstruction or hemoptysis. Palliative chemotherapy improves survival and quality of life in patients with metastatic disease compared with best supportive care. Chemotherapy also improves outcomes as a second-line and third-line treatment for patients in whom previous regimens have failed. Biologic therapies such as erlotinib and bevacizumab have been incorporated into every phase of chemotherapy with good results.
Rosenzweig
Kenneth E
KE
Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065-6007, USA. rosenzwk@mskcc.org
Movsas
Benjamin
B
Bradley
Jeff
J
Gewanter
Richard M
RM
Gopal
Ramesh S
RS
Komaki
Ritsuko U
RU
Kong
Feng-Ming
FM
Lee
Hoon Ku
HK
Feins
Richard H
RH
Langer
Corey J
CJ
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D011799:Quinazolines; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride