A critical review of recent developments in radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, and radiotherapy plays a key role in both curative and palliative treatments for this disease. Recent advances include stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which is now established as a curative-intent treatment option for patients with peripheral early-stage NSCLC who are medically inoperable, or at high risk for surgical complications. Improved delivery techniques have facilitated studies evaluating the role of SABR in oligometastatic NSCLC, and encouraged the use of high-technology radiotherapy in some palliative settings. Although outcomes in locally advanced NSCLC remain disappointing for many patients, future progress may come about from an improved understanding of disease biology and the development of radiotherapy approaches that further reduce normal tissue irradiation. At the moment, the benefits, if any, of radiotherapy technologies such as proton beam therapy remain unproven. This paper provides a critical review of selected aspects of modern radiotherapy for lung cancer, highlights the current limitations in our understanding and treatment approaches, and discuss future treatment strategies for NSCLC.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 1Z2.
Sarah
S
Baker
Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Postbox 7057, 1007 MD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Max
M
Dahele
Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Postbox 7057, 1007 MD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Frank J
FJ
Lagerwaard
Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Postbox 7057, 1007 MD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.senan@vumc.nl.
Suresh
S
Senan
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D061766:Proton Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Non-small cell lung cancer; Proton therapy; Radiotherapy; Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy