Is a more successful radiotherapy treatment available for non-small cell lung cancer?

This study compared at a new radiotherapy technique to common radiotherapy treatments for Non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).

Radiation therapy uses high ­energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA (the genetic material found in cells). Radiation therapy usually involves low doses delivered every day for a period of weeks. Radiotherapy is often considered when patients are not suitable for or refuse to have surgery, but can also be used either before or after surgery to remove the tumor. However, radiation therapy does not always lead to disease control.

Hypofractionated radiation therapy invloves larger doses of radiation given over a shorter period of time (fewer days or weeks) than standard radiation therapy. Whether this treatment schedule will lead to better long-term disease control is unclear.

This study included 80 patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer (the cancer had not spread from the original site). Patients were all treated with hypofractionated radiation therapy, and were followed for 2 years.

Two years after treatment with hypofractionated radiation therapy the cancer of 87.4% of the patients was under control. 8.8% of patients experienced a local recurrence (cancer returned at the original site) after 2 years. 21.6% of patients experienced a distant recurrence (cancer returned at a site distant from the original tumor). Patients with tumors more than 3 cm in size had 3 times the risk of developing a distant recurrence.

The 2 year ovarall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) was 68.7%.

Cough, feeling short of breath, infection and tiredness were the major side effects of the treatment.

The authors concluded that hypofractionated radiation therapy resulted in very good control of patients' lung cancer with few severe side effects.

The authors noted that the survival rate is slightly higher in this trial than in previous studies. This may be due to fitter patients or due to the treatment itself.

Discuss hypofractionated radiation therapy with your doctor to see if it is an option for you.