Radiotherapy in Inoperable Stage I Lung Cancer

Abstract

In 38 cases of Stage I lung cancer, for which surgery was not indicated because of poor cardiopulmonary function or other reason, radical irradiation yielded excellent results. The five year survival rate was 42.1%, the 10-year survival rate 28.4% and the 15-year survival rate 17.1%. Postradiation complications which can be life-threatening, were acceptably low in incidence, and there was no radiation-related death. The results support the concept of radical irradiation being acceptable as a treatment modality for Stage I lung cancer if the patients concerned cannot have surgery because of poor cardiopulmonary function or some other reason.

Regular follow­up for patients irradiated for early stage nonsmall­cell lung cancer too!

“…We wholeheartedly agree with the conclusions of the study, but would like to extend this observation to another subset of patients, namely those with technically operable, but medically inoperable early stage NSCLC, usually treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone [2][3][4][5]. There are a number of similarities and differences between these two patient groups.…”

“…Thirdly, while we agree with EGERMANN et al [1] that the outcome of their patient population may have been burdened by advanced age and pre-existing comorbidities, this was even more the case for the RT-treated patients who were not surgical candidates, with the exception of a few patients who refused surgery for their initial early NSCLC [2][3][4][5]. We have used a very similar follow-up approach to that of EGERMANN et al [1] in our patient population, and, although we did not perform cost-effectiveness analysis, we are almost certain that the same would have happened with RT.…”

Factors important for efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy of medically inoperable stage I lung cancer. A retrospective analysis of patients treated in the Nordic countries

“…The equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2, a/b 0/10) will be 55. 6 Gy to the periphery of the PTV. In spite of the differences between our studies as mentioned above we obtained the same result as Onishi when we divided the material into two groups with an EQD2 / and B/55.6 Gy, resulting in a statistical significant survival gain for the group receiving more than 55.6 Gy (p B/0.0018).…”

Stereotactic hypofractionated radiation therapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer

“…Some patients, however, never undergo surgery due to severe comorbidity, age or refusal. Such patients have traditionally been treated with external beam radiation therapy (RT) [4][5][6][7].…”