Randomized phase II trial comparing twice daily hyperfractionated with once daily hypofractionated thoracic radiotherapy in limited disease small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is recommended for limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD SCLC). Twice daily TRT is well documented, but not universally implemented - probably mainly due to inconvenience and concerns about toxicity. A schedule of three-week hypofractionated TRT is a commonly used alternative. This is the first randomized trial comparing twice daily and hypofractionated TRT in LD SCLC.


METHODS
Patients received four courses of cisplatin/etoposide (PE) and were randomized to TRT of 42 Gy in 15 fractions (once daily, OD) or 45 Gy in 30 fractions (twice daily, BID) between the second and third PE course. Good responders received prophylactic cranial irradiation of 30 Gy in 15 fractions.


RESULTS
157 patients were enrolled between May 2005 and January 2011 (OD: n = 84, BID: n = 73). Median age was 63 years, 52% were men, 84% had performance status 0-1, 72% had stage III disease and 11% non-malignant pleural effusion. The treatment arms were well balanced. The response rates were similar (OD: 92%, BID: 88%; p = 0.41), but more BID patients achieved a complete response (OD: 13%, BID: 33%; p = 0.003). There was no difference in one-year progression-free survival (PFS) (OD: 45%, BID: 49%; p = 0.61) or median PFS (OD: 10.2 months, BID: 11.4 months; p = 0.93). The median overall survival in the BID arm was 6.3 months longer (OD: 18.8 months, BID: 25.1 months; p = 0.61). There were no differences in grade 3-4 esophagitis (OD: 31%, BID: 33%, p = 0.80) or pneumonitis (OD: 2%, BID: 3%, p = 1.0). Patients on the BID arm reported slightly more dysphagia at the end of the TRT.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in severe toxicity between the two TRT schedules. The twice daily schedule resulted in significantly more complete responses and a numerically longer median overall survival, but no firm conclusions about efficacy could be drawn from this phase II trial.
a Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway .|b Clinic of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway .
Bjørn H
BH
Grønberg
a Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway .|b Clinic of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway .
Tarje O
TO
Halvorsen
c Department of Pulmonology , Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway .
Øystein
Ø
Fløtten
d Department of Oncology , Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital , Oslo , Norway .|e Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway .
Odd T
OT
Brustugun
d Department of Oncology , Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital , Oslo , Norway .
Paal F
PF
Brunsvig
f Department of Pulmonology , University Hospital of North Norway , Tromsø , Norway .|g Department of Clinical Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø , Tromsø , Norway .
Ulf
U
Aasebø
g Department of Clinical Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø , Tromsø , Norway .|h Department of Oncology , University Hospital of North Norway , Tromsø , Norway .
Roy M
RM
Bremnes
i Department of Pulmonology , Nordland Hospital , Bodø , Norway .
Terje
T
Tollåli
j Department of Oncology , Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål Hospital , Oslo , Norway .
Kjersti
K
Hornslien
k Department of Oncology , Ålesund Hospital , Ålesund , Norway , and.
Bjørg Y
BY
Aksnessæther
l Department of Pulmonology , Ålesund Hospital , Ålesund , Norway .
Erik D
ED
Liaaen
b Clinic of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway .
Stein
S
Sundstrøm
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin