Objective To explore the efficacy of implantation of 125I seeds combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for local recurrent lung cancer at a late stage.Methods A total of thirty-two patients were received implantation of 125I seeds therapy with a MPD of 110 to 140 Gy in our hospital.CT scan was used for guidance.Before the operation,a therapeutic plan was made by TPS.The therapeutic target volume(PTV)included the clinical target volume(CTV)plus the surrounding tissues 1 cm adjacent to the edge of CTV.The activity of each seeds was set at 0.7 mCi.The distribution of the seeds was checked by CT scan immediately after the implantation.Then,chemotherapy or radiotherapy was carried out in 3 to 7 days.EP,NP,or TP was used for the patients receiving chemotherapy.Results In 2 to 4 months after the treatments,the CR,PR,and NC were 46.9%(15/32),37.5%(12/32),and 15.6%(5/32),respectively.The rate of complete local control was 84.4%(CR+PR).The 1-and 2-year survival rate in this series were 78.6%(22/28)and 66.7%(10/15).Four of these patients survived over 3 years.Eleven of the patients(34.4%)developed pneumothorax after the implantation,3 of them were cured by chest drainage;9 patients(28.1%)had hemorrhage including 5 cases of intrapulmonary bleeding and 4 cases of emptysis.In 3 cases(9.4%),the seeds missed the target,and dropped into the diaphragmatic muscle at the thoracic cavity(2 cases)or out of the target area(1 case).No seeds migration or radiation-induced lung injury was found.Conclusion Implantation of 125I seeds combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is effective for patients with local recurrent lung cancer at a late stage.

BACKGROUNDBrachytherapy offers an innovative method of delivering conformal high-dose radiation to a defining target tumor. The aim of this study is to investigate the value and effect of using radioactivity ¹²⁵I seed permanent implants combined with chemotherapy in the management of stage III or IV lung cancer.

METHODSForty-two lung cancer patients in stage III and IV (15 center lung cancer) who couldn't be relieved by routine methods were treated with ¹²⁵I seed permanent micropuncture implant brachytherapy and chemotherapy. The dose and distribution of seeds was decided by treatment planning system, and CT was used during ¹²⁵I seed permanent implant treatment. Distribution of seeds and complication was reviewed by CT scan after treatment. Chemotherapy was performed in 3 to 7 days after implanting. The effect was observed by X-ray, CT and MRI every 3 or 4 weeks.

RESULTSThe satisfaction rate of seed distribution was 83.3% (35/42). The response rate of treatment was 85.7% (36/42), including complete response rate 26.2% (11/42), partial response rate 59.5% (25/42), no change rate 14.3% (6/42). Effective rate of pain relief was 83.3% (15/18). Thirteen patients (31.0%) had complication of mild hemothorax, 8 (19.0%) with bleeding in lung and 5 (11.9%) with hemoptysis. Three patients (7.1%) had mild pneumothorax and 1 patient (2.4%) had a malposition seed. Leucopenia and radiation pneumonia didn't occurred.

CONCLUSIONS¹²⁵I seed micropuncture implant has less trauma and complication, and is a safe and effective method. This method might be helpful in the treatment of lung cancer and can be selectively used in clinic.