title: Prognostic significance of weight gain during definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The successful treatment of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is still compromised by poor locoregional and distant control rates. Given the morbidity associated with treatment, it is critical to determine clinical prognostic factors to risk stratify patients before and after aggressive therapy. This study aimed to discern the prognostic value of weight gain during CRT in patients with locally advanced NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of 92 patients treated with definitive split-course CRT between 2004 and 2010 at Rush University Medical Center. Weight gain was defined as a weight change greater than the highest quartile of change between the start and finish of CRT (4.5 lb). Overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the cumulative incidences of locoregional and distant recurrence were calculated. Cox regression (multivariate analysis) was used to determine independent predictors of OS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a median follow-up of 50 months for surviving patients, the median, 3- and 5-year OS probabilities were 25 months, 37%, and 29%, respectively. The 3-year cumulative risks of locoregional and distant metastases were 51% and 64%. Patients who experienced weight gain were significantly more likely to survive (3-year OS, 55% vs. 31%; P = .04) and prolonged DMFS resulted. Weight gain was the only significant predictor of survival on multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight gain during split-course CRT was associated with superior OS and DMFS. The presence of weight gain may have utility in risk stratification after CRT as well as in identifying novel treatment approaches for patients with locally advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. david_sher@rush.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Gielda
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liptay
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batus
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fidler
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*