In a nutshell
This study investigated if postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is effective in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after pneumonectomy (PMT; lung surgery).
They found that PORT improved survival and was well tolerated in these patients.
Some background
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Treatment options include chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) to reduce tumor size. Pneumonectomy (PMT) is also a treatment option. This involves partial removal of one of the lungs. This removes the cancerous tumor.
After PMT, the lungs may have reduced functionality. There is an increased load on the intact lung. Many patients are also treated with postoperative RT (PORT) after PMT. This is to kill the remaining cancer cells. The side effects associated with PORT may be worse in patients after PMT. It is unclear if PORT is safe and effective for patients with NSCLC after PMT.
Methods & findings
This study included 119 patients with stage III NSCLC. 32 patients underwent CT and PORT after PMT. 87 patients underwent CT alone. The main outcome was survival. These included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS; survival without signs of cancer). Side effects were also monitored.
93.75% of patients completed PORT treatment. PORT was well tolerated. No grade severe or life-threatening side effects were reported. No significant heart damage was observed. Moderate inflammation in the esophagus was observed in 31.3% of PORT patients.
OS was significantly better in PORT patients (34 months vs. not reached in the control group). DFS was also significantly better (19 months vs. 13 months) in PORT patients.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that PORT after PMT improved survival and was well tolerated.
The fine print
This study was based on medical records. Some information was not available. The assessment of heart function was not based an electrocardiogram (ECG). More investigation is needed.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding lung cancer treatment, please consult with your oncologist.
Published By :
BMC cancer
Date :
May 22, 2019
