BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the clinical effect of gemcitabine and concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSFrom April 2002 to June 2003, 28 patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC were treated with gemcitabine and 3D-CRT simultaneously. Chemotherapy consisted of intravenously gemcitabine 350 mg/m 2 on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36. 3D-CRT was delivered up to a total dose of 60-64 Gy with a 2.0 Gy dose fraction per day, 5 days per week.

RESULTSThe overall response rates of primary tumor and mediastinum metastatic node were 89.3%(25/28) and 96.0%(24/25) respectively, and 94.7%(18/19) and 77.8%(7/9) for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma respectively. The acute side effects of patients were mostly myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, radiation-induced esophagitis and pneumonitis (RTOGI/II), however, all of them were cured.

CONCLUSIONSConcurrent application of gemcitabine and 3D-CRT can improve the overall response rate for locally advanced NSCLC without aggravating the side effects.