PURPOSE
Prognosis of locally advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with radiation therapy alone has been disappointing. In recent years, concurrent chemoradiation therapy has potential of improving both local and metastatic disease-free survival. This phase II study was undertaken to determine the feasibility, toxicity, response rate, local control rate, and survival duration of locally advanced NSCL patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation using cisplatin and oral etoposide.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients were enrolled and forty-one patients were evaluable.
Chemotheray consisted of cisplatin 50 mg/m2/IV on days 1 and 8 and oral etoposide 100 mg/day on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 which was repeated, every 4 weeks for two cycles during radiation therapy. Radiation therapy was administered to a total dose of 6300 cGY.
RESULTS
Among 41 evaluable patients, six patients achieved complete response, and twenty had partial response, for an overall response rate of 63.4% (95% confidence interval; 48.4% to 75.4%).
Stable disease was reported in 10 patients (24.4%) and another 5 (12.2%) showed disease pro gression. Overall survival rate was 76% at 1 year, 34% at 2 years. Median survival duration was 17 months (range; 3 to 41 ). Eighty-three percents of patients had radiation pneumonitis but only one patients needed medical treatment.
CONCLUSION
Concurrent chemoradiation therapy with cisplatin and oral etoposide at this level is a well tolerated and feasible.