Bronchial arterial chemoembolization/infusion combined with iodine-125 brachytherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a promising salvage therapy after standard treatment failure

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and optimal intervention timing of bronchial arterial chemoembolization/infusion combined with iodine-125 brachytherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer after standard treatment failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2019 to April 2024, the eligible patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after standard treatment failure received bronchial arterial chemoembolization/infusion combined with iodine-125 brachytherapy, were included in this retrospective study. Objective response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival and adverse events served as the main indicators of assessment. According to the intervention timing of intervention for this combination therapy, they were divided into the early intervention subgroup and the late intervention subgroup. Statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 3.5.3).

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients with the median age 66 years (11 women) were enrolled in this study. The objective response rate of three months after the combination therapy was 71.11% and disease control rate was 95.56%. The median progression-free survival of this cohort was 12 months and the median overall survival was 20 months. The progression-free survival (15.5 vs. 9 months, P = 0.007) and overall survival (27.5 vs. 15 months, P < 0.001) in the early intervention subgroup was significantly better than that in the late intervention subgroup. No severe complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

For advanced non-small cell lung cancer after standard treatment failure, the combination of bronchial arterial chemoembolization/infusion and iodine-125 brachytherapy is a promising salvage therapy with good efficacy and safety.