Radiotherapy for Locoregional Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Author:
Mi Young KIM
1
;
Jae Sung KIM
;
Jong Seok LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Local recurrence; Radiotherapy
- MeSH: Carbon Monoxide; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Lung; Lung Volume Measurements; Lymph Nodes; Male; Neoplasm Metastasis; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Radiation Pneumonitis; Recurrence; Respiratory Function Tests; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate
- From:Journal of Lung Cancer 2011;10(1):37-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the outcomes and complications of curative radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2004 to 2008, 21 patients received curative radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent NSCLC without systemic metastasis after surgery. At the time of recurrence, the median age was 70 years (range 49~81 years), and 19 patients were male. Most patients (n=17) were ECOG 0 or 1 performance status. The median disease-free interval was 15 months. Distribution of recurrence sites were mediastinal lymph nodes (n=10), ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes (n=4), ipsilateral lung parenchyma (n=4), bronchial stump (n=2) and ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes (n=1). Radiotherapy was administered (median 66 Gy, range 59.4~70 Gy) by a three-dimensional conformal technique. Thirteen patients received chemotherapy concurrently during radiotherapy. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was also used to detect lung function change before and after radiation. RESULTS: The median survival and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 17 months, 68% and 34%, respectively. Concurrent chemotherapy did not affect post-recurrence overall survival (p=0.183). Seven patients (33% of all patients) had re-progression within the radiation field at a median time of 4 months after completion of radiation. Diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide of lung after radiotherapy decreased significantly compared with pre-radiotherapy status (p=0.033). Radiation pneumonitis of any grade was seen in 11 patients. Three patients died of pulmonary complications: one of bacterial pneumonia, one of exacerbation of underlying interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and one of radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study showed that curative radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent NSCLC resulted in a median survival of 17 months and a 2-year survival rate of 34%, which is comparable to other studies. Patients suitable for curative radiotherapy for recurrent NSCLC could be treated aggressively, such as using high dose radiation with or without chemotherapy. However, pre-radiotherapy lung function should be carefully evaluated to avoid serious post-treatment lung damage considering poor lung function of post-resection patients.
