title: Outcomes treating stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma with curative-intent radiotherapy and concurrent carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thoracic radiotherapy administered concurrently with chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer, but the optimal chemotherapy regimen is not clearly established. The objective of this study was to assess outcomes in a large cohort of patients treated with curative-intent using carboplatin and paclitaxel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients undergoing curative-intent radiotherapy to 60-66 Gy in 30-33 daily fractions with concurrent weekly carboplatin (AUC = 2) and paclitaxel (45 mg/m(2) /week) between March 2004 and May 2012 were identified from a prospective database and reviewed individually. A minimum follow-up of 3 months was required unless death occurred sooner. Response to treatment was defined according to established guidelines on re-staging computed tomography scan at 3 months. Toxicities were assessed using a standardised scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seven patients were analysed. The median follow-up was 43.5 months. Three months after treatment, a complete or partial response was observed in 72 patients (68%), and nine patients (8%) had already died. The overall locoregional failure rate was 47%, and failure eventually occurred at any site in 75 patients (70%). Median progression-free survival, and median survival were 15 and 22 months, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropaenia, thrombocytopaenia, nephrotoxicity, oesophagitis and pneumonitis were observed in 15%, 1%, 3%, 11% and 9% of patients during treatment, respectively. There was one episode of fatal radiation pneumonitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with thoracic radiotherapy and concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy is feasible. Survival and toxicity outcomes compare favorably to those reported using cisplatin-based regimens.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Hon
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5927-2172
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.|University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark Blayne
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pinkham
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.|University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Statistics and Data Analysis, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Dannie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauth
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Gang Tao
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: carboplatin; chemotherapy; non-small cell lung cancer; paclitaxel; radiotherapy