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Long‐term survival following chemoradiation for inoperable non‐small cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Plumridge Nikki M,
Millward Michael J,
Rischin Danny,
MacManus Michael P,
Wirth Andrew,
Michael Michael,
Yuen Kally,
Ball David L
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb02179.x
Subject(s) - medicine , carboplatin , lung cancer , etoposide , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , chemoradiotherapy , oncology , cisplatin , survival rate , surgery , cancer
Objective: To measure long‐term survival following combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for inoperable non‐small cell lung cancer. Design and setting: Two prospective Phase I/II studies in the multidisciplinary Lung Service of a dedicated cancer hospital in Victoria, commencing in 1996 and 1997–1998. Patients: 33 patients referred for treatment of histologically or cytologically proven inoperable non‐small cell lung cancer, who had no evidence of distant metastases, Karnofsky performance status > 70%, weight loss < 10%, and no prior treatment for lung cancer. Patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 9 years. Interventions: Patients in both studies were treated concomitantly with chemotherapy and radiotherapy 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. Chemotherapy in the first study (LURTCE) consisted of cisplatin and etoposide; in the second study (LURTCF), chemotherapy consisted of escalating doses of carboplatin and fluorouracil. Main outcome measure: Overall survival. Results: Six of 33 patients were still alive 9 years after commencement of treatment. Median survival for the whole group was 2.1 years (95% CI, 1.3–3.1 years), with 18% (95% CI, 8%–35%) of patients still alive at 5 years (plateau). Conclusion: Long‐term survival can be achieved in some patients with inoperable non‐small cell lung cancer treated by radical chemoradiation alone, suggesting the possibility of cure.