Induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus carboplatin followed by paclitaxel with concurrent radiotherapy in stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: A phase II trial

Pulmonary toxicity of systemic lung cancer therapy

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As new therapies are developed, it is important to understand the pulmonary toxicities associated with systemic lung cancer therapies. Cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens for NSCLC often include taxanes. Pulmonary toxicity from taxanes presents as an ILD-type reaction characterized by increasing dyspnoea, dry cough, fever and bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates. The incidence of taxane-induced pneumonitis is rare, and many patients respond to steroid therapy; however, fatal cases have been reported. Patients with NSCLC are routinely tested for the presence of tumour oncogenes to determine their candidacy for targeted therapies, such as TKI. EGFR-TKI can cause pneumonitis characterized by progressive dyspnoea and hypoxia. EGFR-TKI-associated ILD rarely presents as an AIP with rapidly progressive respiratory failure and high mortality rates. The most recent development in lung cancer therapy has been the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). ICI pneumonitis has been increasingly recognized as a common complication of ICI therapy, with reported incidence as high as 19% in some clinical settings. Early-grade ICI pneumonitis may be asymptomatic; however, high-grade ICI pneumonitis can result in progressive dyspnoea, hypoxia and respiratory failure. ICI pneumonitis is unique in that only half of the patients will improve with steroid treatment, and mortality rates are high. As treatment of NSCLC evolves, providers must be able to recognize and respond to the development of drug-induced pulmonary toxicities.

Prognostic factors in the radical nonsurgical treatment of stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Many patients diagnosed with stage IIIB (AJCC sixth edition; T4, N3, or both; no pleural effusion) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are treated with curative intent, despite a low cure rate. Guidelines are required to help select patients for radical therapy so that the patients with little chance of cure may be spared the toxicities of aggressive treatment. A retrospective analysis was performed to investigate factors influencing outcomes in these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2002 to 2009, all cases of stage IIIB NSCLC from the authors' institution were identified. Patients treated with radical radiotherapy (minimum dose, 50 Gy), with or without chemotherapy, were included. Charts were reviewed for patient demographic data, baseline blood work, tumor factors, treatment factors, and hospitalizations. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), measured from time of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 238 patients identified, 184 eligible cases were reviewed. The median follow-up for all patients was 17.2 months (range, 1.7-237.1). The median progression-free survival was 10.8 months (95% CI, 9.6-12.4). Median survival was 17.9 months, and OS was 68%, 42%, and 28% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, female gender (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37-0.88; P = .0013), ≤ 5% weight loss (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.93; P = .01), and absence of N3 disease (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.96; P = .03) were associated with significantly longer survival.

CONCLUSION

OS was significantly longer in women, in patients with ≤ 5% weight loss, and in those without N3 disease. Good patient selection remains important in the radical treatment of stage IIIB NSCLC.

Prediction of acute toxicity grade ≥ 3 in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving intensity modulated radiotherapy and concurrent low-dose Cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is increasingly used with concurrent chemotherapy but toxicity data are not well investigated. We correlated clinical and dosimetric parameters with acute toxicity grade ≥ 3 in patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with IMRT and concurrent low-dose cisplatin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed age, PS, comorbidities, gross tumor volume, and the volume of the esophagus irradiated with 50 Gy (V50oes) in relation with acute toxicity. The mean lung dose (MLD) and pulmonary toxicity was described. Treatment consisted of 24 × 2, 75 Gy, and daily cisplatin 6 mg/m². Patients with an MLD ≥ 20 Gy or a PS > 2 were excluded from CCRT. Toxicity was prospectively scored using the Common Toxicity Criteria for adverse events version 3.0. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was applied for scoring comorbidities. Multivariable logistic regressions for toxicity and survival estimates (Kaplan-Meier) were used for evaluation.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2011, 188 patients received standard CCRT. In 35% of the patients, acute toxicity grade ≥ 3 was reported. Grade 5 toxicity was scored in 1% of the patients. V50oes (odds ratio [OR], 1.33 per 10% increase; P = .01) and PS ≥ 2 (OR, 3.45; P = .07) were significantly correlated with acute toxicity ≥ grade 3. No differences in toxicity were observed between age groups (< 70 and ≥ 70; P = .26), and those with a CCI score < 5 and ≥ 5, and acute severe toxicity (P = .36). Grade ≥ 3 pulmonary toxicity was seen in 7%. The 1- and 2-year overall survival in stage III disease were 78% and 52%, respectively. Patients with a poor PS or a high CCI score had similar survival outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent low-dose cisplatin using IMRT is effective in a large cohort of consecutive patients with NSCLC and life threatening toxicity is rare (1%). PS ≥ 2 and V50oes are correlated with acute toxicity grade ≥ 3.

Randomized phase II study of concurrent cisplatin/etoposide or paclitaxel/carboplatin and thoracic radiotherapy in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the activity and safety of concurrent thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) plus weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin (PC) regimen compared with widely used cisplatin/etoposide (PE) regimen in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned to receive the following treatments: PE arm, cisplatin (50mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 and etoposide (50 mg/m(2)) on days 1-5 and 29-33 plus 60 Gy of TRT; PC arm, weekly concurrent carboplatin (AUC = 2) and paclitaxel (45 mg/m(2)) plus 60 Gy of TRT.

RESULTS

A total of 65 patients were randomized (PE arm, n = 33; PC arm, n = 32). The 3-year overall survival (OS) was significantly better in the PE arm than in the PC arm (33.1% vs. 13%, P = .04). The incidence of Grade 3/4 neutropenia was 78.1% in the PE arm and 51.5% in the PC arm (P = .05). The rate of Grade 2 or greater radiation pneumonitis was 25% in the PE arm and 48.5% in the PC arm (P = .09).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to PE regimen, weekly PC regimen cannot be recommended since it failed to achieve an improvement in either OS or PFS.

Induction and concurrent taxanes enhance both the pulmonary metabolic radiation response and the radiation pneumonitis response in patients with esophagus cancer

PURPOSE

The primary aim of this study was to assess pulmonary radiation toxicity quantitatively in patients who received thoracic radiotherapy combined with induction and/or concurrent chemotherapy with or without taxanes for esophageal cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study subjects were 139 patients treated at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for esophageal cancer and who had undergone [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography between November 1, 2003 and December 15, 2007 for disease restaging after chemoradiotherapy. The patients were grouped into those who had not received taxanes (Group 1), those who had received induction or concurrent taxanes (Group 2), and those who had received both induction and concurrent taxanes (Group 3). Clinical pulmonary toxicity was scored using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3. Linear regression was applied to the fluorodeoxyglucose uptake vs. radiation dose to determine the pulmonary metabolic radiation response (PMRR) for each case. The clinical toxicity scores and PMRR among the groups were evaluated for significance differences.

RESULTS

The crude rate of pneumonitis symptoms was 46%, 62%, and 74% for Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The analysis of variance test of log(PMRR) by treatment was significant (p = .0046). Group 3 had a 61% greater PMRR compared with Group 1 (p = .002). Group 2 had a 38% greater PMRR compared with Group 1 (p = .015). Finally, Group 3 had a 17% greater PMRR compared with Group 2 (p = .31). A PMRR enhancement ratio of 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.14) was observed for Group 3 vs. Group 1.

CONCLUSION

Patients given induction and concurrent taxane chemotherapy had a significantly greater PMRR and clinical pneumonitis symptoms compared with the patients whose chemotherapy regimen did not include taxanes.

How to improve loco-regional control in stages IIIa-b NSCLC? Results of a three-armed randomized trial from the Swedish Lung Cancer Study Group

BACKGROUND

A combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the treatment base for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, both loco-regional and distant failure is frequent. Attempts to improve the loco-regional control were made in three separate phase II studies in Swedish University Hospitals, where accelerated radiotherapy or concurrent daily or weekly chemotherapy with conventional radiotherapy were tested. Comparatively good results from these studies lead to this national randomized phase II study, the RAKET-study, where the different concepts were investigated on a wider basis for further phase III studies.

METHODS

Inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients in good performance status (PS<2) were equally randomized to either of three arms in eight institutions. All arms started with two cycles of induction chemotherapy: paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC6. Arm A: a third identical cycle was given concomitant with start of accelerated radiotherapy, 1.7 Gy BID to 64.6 Gy in 4.5 weeks. Arm B consisted of daily concomitant paclitaxel 12 mg/m2 with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy: 2 Gy to 60 Gy in 6 weeks. Arm C: weekly concomitant paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and identical radiotherapy to 60 Gy. Primary endpoint: TTP. Secondary: OS, toxicity, QL and relapse pattern.

RESULTS

Between June 2002 and May 2005 152 patients were randomized and of them 151 were evaluable: 78 men and 73 women, median age 62 years (43-78), 55% had performance status 0 and 45% PS 1. Thirty-four percent had stage IIIa and 66% IIIb.

HISTOLOGY

adenocarcinoma 48%, squamous cell carcinoma 32% and 20% non-small cell carcinoma. The three arms were well balanced. Toxicity was manageable with 12% grades 3-4 esophagitis, 1% grades 3-4 pneumonitis and there was no clear difference between the arms. The QL data did not differ either. Median time to progression was 9.8 (8.3-12.7) months (8.8, 10.3 and 9.3 months for arms A, B and C, respectively). Median survival was 17.8 (14.4-23.7) months (17.7, 17.7 and 20.6 months for A, B and C, respectively). The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was 63, 31 and 24%. Sixty-nine percent of the patients relapsed with distant metastases initially and 31% had loco-regional tumor progression, without significant differences between treatment arms. Thirty-four percent developed brain metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment results are quite equal by intensifying the loco-regional treatment either by accelerated fractionated radiotherapy or daily or weekly concomitant chemo-radiotherapy both in terms of survival, toxicity and quality of life. The optimal treatment schedule for patients with locally advanced NSCLC is still to be decided and investigated in future clinical studies. Relapse pattern with distant metastases and especially brain metastases is a great problem and need further research for better therapy options and higher cure rate for this patient group.

Predictors of acute esophagitis in lung cancer patients treated with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and chemotherapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the risk factors for acute esophagitis (AET) in lung cancer patients treated with concurrent 3D-CRT and chemotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data from 100 patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy with a mean dose of 62.05 +/- 4.64 Gy were prospectively evaluated. Esophageal toxicity was graded according to criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. The following dosimetric parameters were analyzed: length and volume of esophagus in treatment field, percentage of esophagus volume treated to >or=10, >or=20, >or=30, >or=35, >or=40, >or=45, >or=50, >or=55, and >or=60 Gy, and the maximum (D(max)) and mean doses (D(mean)) delivered to the esophagus. Also, we developed an esophagitis index (EI) to account the esophagitis grades over treatment time.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients developed AET (Grade 1, 26 patients; Grade 2, 29 patients; and Grade 3, 4 patients). V50 was associated with AET duration (p = 0.017), AET Grade 1 duration (p = 0.016), maximum analgesia (p = 0.019), esophagitis index score (p = 0.024), and AET Grade >or=1 (p = 0.058). If V50 is <30% there is a 47.3% risk of AET Grade >or=1, which increases to 73.3% if V50 is >or=30% (p = 0.008). The predictive abilities of models (sensitivity and specificity) were calculated by receiver operating characeristic curves.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the receiver operating characeristic curve analysis, the 30% of esophageal volume receiving >or=50 Gy was the most statistically significant factor associated with AET Grade >or=1 and maximum analgesia (A(max)). There was an association with AET Grade >or=2 but it did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.076).