Radical-intent hypofractionated radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review of the literature

Incidence and predictors of chest wall toxicity after high-dose radiation therapy in 15 fractions

PURPOSE

Fifteen fraction treatment schedules are increasingly used to deliver high doses of radiation therapy (RT) to both lung and hepatobiliary malignancies. The purpose of our study was to examine the incidence and predictors of chest wall (CW) toxicity in patients treated with this regimen.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We evaluated 135 patients treated with RT to doses ≥52.5 Gy in 15 fractions for thoracic and hepatobiliary malignancies between January 2009 and December 2012. We documented patient characteristics and CW dosimetric parameters for each case. Toxicity was scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0, criteria for radiation dermatitis and CW pain. Patient characteristics and CW dosimetric parameters were evaluated for their association with CW toxicity using proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 9 months from the start of RT. Forty-eight patients (36%) developed dermatitis at a median time of 18 days. In multivariable analysis, the absolute volume of CW (in cm³) receiving 40 Gy (V40) ≥120 cm³ was associated with the occurrence of dermatitis (hazard ratio, 3.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-5.60; P < .001). Twenty-one patients (16%) developed CW pain (20 grade 1, 1 grade 2) at a median time of 3 months. In multivariable analysis, CW V40 ≥150 cm³ was associated with the occurrence of CW pain (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-6.24; P = .03). The absolute rate of CW pain in patients with V40 <150 cm³ was 11% versus 26% in patients with V40 ≥150 cm³ (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypofractionated RT with 15 fraction regimens results in an acceptable incidence of CW toxicity, specifically CW pain. We recommend a dose constraint of V40 <150 cm³ to minimize this adverse event.

Accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of lung: evaluation of response, survival, toxicity and quality of life from a Phase II randomized study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of accelerated hypofractionated radiation with concomitant chemotherapy (AHFx-RT-CT) in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung.

METHODS

36 patients were enrolled in this study (CTRI/2013/11/004143). Patients in Arm A (n = 18) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) (paclitaxel 200 mg m(-2) and carboplatin area under the curve 5) followed by external radiotherapy (60 Gy/30 fractions/6 weeks). Patients in Arm B (n = 18) received NACT as in Arm A followed by AHFx-RT (48 Gy/20 fractions/4 weeks) with concomitant chemotherapy (cisplatin 30 mg m(-2) weekly). Primary end points included comparative evaluation of overall locoregional response rates (ORRs) and progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included toxicity, quality of life (QOL) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 15 months. The ORR at first follow-up (72.2% vs 44%, p = 0.06) and at 1 year after treatment completion (61% vs 5.5%, p = 0.04) were superior in Arm B. The median PFS (17 vs 5.36 months; p = 0.053) and OS (24.73 vs 12.33 months; p = 0.007) were also superior in Arm B. Grade ≥3 acute pharyngitis/oesophagitis was less in Arm B (p = 0.05). Improvement of emotional function, cognitive function and chest pain was observed in Arm B.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that AHFx-RT-CT is feasible for locally advanced SCC of the lung with improved response rate, survival, QOL and favourable toxicity.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study comparing conventionally fractionated radiation with AHFx-RT-CT. Addition of low-dose weekly cisplatin as radiosensitizer may be the potential factor responsible for improved response rate, survival and favourable toxicity in the study arm despite lower biological effective dose.

Long-term follow-up of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving concurrent hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy with or without cetuximab

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiation dose escalation using hypofractionation might improve overall survival (OS). We investigated OS in a phase II multicenter study in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) patients treated with hypofractionated concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 2-armed phase II, multi-center study (NTR2230) was performed with the aim to assess the effect of cetuximab to concurrent chemoradiotherapy in LA-NSCLC patients (stage II/IIIA/B). Arm A received high dose radiotherapy (24 × 2.75 Gy) and concurrent daily low-dose cisplatin (6 mg/m(2)). Arm B received an identical treatment regimen with additional weekly cetuximab. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and 1-, 2- and 5-year OS proportions were calculated.

RESULTS

Between February 2009 and May 2011, 102 patients were randomly allocated in two arms. Median OS was 31.5 months (range 12.8-52.3), not significantly different between arms A and B; 33.0 (range 17.0-57.0) and 30.0 (11.0-52.0) months. 1-, 2- and 5-year OS rates were 74.5%, 59.4% and 37.3%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, worse performance score, V35 of the esophagus and the existence of comorbidities were significantly (P-value<0.05) associated with a shorter OS.

DISCUSSION

In this phase II trial, the median OS for the entire group was remarkably high; 31.5 months. Furthermore, 5-year OS was still 37.3%. Hypofractionation might contribute to improved OS in LA-NSCLC patients.