title: Effects of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy on Respiratory Function Tests and Quality of Life Scores During Treatment of Lung Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemoradiotherapy is an important treatment modality for lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in, as well as the interrelationship between, lung function and quality of life of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy due to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy for lung carcinoma. The respiratory function of the patients was assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s per unit (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in 1s per unit of vital capacity (FEV1/VC) before, in the middle of and after treatment. During the study, EORTC QLQ C30 and LC13 questionnaires developed by the Committee of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were employed to evaluate the quality of life on the same day as respiratory function tests (RFT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 23 patients in total: 19 (82.6%) diagnosed with NSCLC and 4 (17.4%) with SCLC. The average percentage FEV1 was 55.6±21.8% in the pre-treatment period, 56.2±19.2% in the middle of treatment and 60.4±22% at the end of treatment. The improvement in functional scores, symptom scores and general health scores during treatment was not statistically significant (P=0.568, P=0.734, P=0.680, P=0.757 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained. While evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for lung carcinoma, the effects of treatment on respiratory function and quality of life should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey E-mail : drsgunduz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Duriye
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akarsu
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin