title: Effect of early chemoradiotherapy in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effect of early chemoradiotherapy on the treatment of patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2006 and December 2011, thirty-one patients with histologically proven LS-SCLC who were treated with two cycles of chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. The chemotherapy regimen was composed of etoposide and cisplatin. Thoracic radiotherapy consisted of 50 to 60 Gy (median, 54 Gy) given in 5 to 6.5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 53 months (median, 22 months). After chemoradiotherapy, 35.5% of the patients (11 patients) showed complete response, 61.3% (19 patients) showed partial response, 3.2% (one patient) showed progressive disease, resulting in an overall response rate of 96.8% (30 patients). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 66.5%, 41.0%, and 28.1%, respectively, with a median OS of 21.3 months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year progression free survival (PFS) rates were 49.8%, 22.8%, and 13.7%, respectively, with median PFS of 12 months. The patterns of failure were: locoregional recurrences in 29.0% (nine patients), distant metastasis in 9.7% (three patients), and both locoregional and distant metastasis in 9.7% (three patients). Grade 3 or 4 toxicities of leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were observed in 32.2%, 29.0%, and 25.8%, respectively. Grade 3 radiation esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis were shown in 12.9% and 6.4%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that early chemoradiotherapy for LS-SCLC provides feasible and acceptable local control and safety.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: In-Bong
authors: IB
authors: Ha
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Bae-Kwon
authors: BK
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Hojin
authors: H
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Hoon-Sik
authors: HS
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Gyu-Young
authors: GY
authors: Chai
authors: Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Myoung-Hee
authors: MH
authors: Kang
authors: Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Hoon Gu
authors: HG
authors: Kim
authors: Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Gyeong-Won
authors: GW
authors: Lee
authors: Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. ; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Jae-Beom
authors: JB
authors: Na
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors: Ki-Mun
authors: KM
authors: Kang
keywords: Chemotherapy; Radiotherapy; Small cell lung carcinoma