We investigated the outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) combined with systemic chemotherapy (CHT) including carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
METHODS
This retrospective study included 105 patients. Treatment involved concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel
with RT administered weekly followed by two cycles of consolidation carboplatin and paclitaxel
administered triweekly.
RESULTS
Comorbid disease was present in 46 (48.6%) patients. At least four cycles of CHT in the concurrent
phase and both cycles of CHT in the consolidation phase were able to be administered to 92.3% and
45.4% of patients, respectively. The most common type of toxicity in the entire treatment protocol was
hematological toxicity (34.8%). The objective response rate was 71.4%. Overall, recurrence was found in
71 (67.6%) patients. The most common type of recurrence was distant metastasis, which occurred in 47
(66.2%) patients. The median progression-free survival was 14 months. The 1, 2, and 3-year progressionfree
survival rates were 59%, 30%, and 26%, respectively. The median overall survival was 27 months.
The 1, 2, and 3-year overall survival rates were 81%, 57%, and 34%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The survival outcomes in this study closely match those reported in the literature. This is notable because
our study included a higher proportion of patients with additional health conditions and fewer concurrent
CHT cycles during RT compared to randomized studies. These findings prompt us to consider what
the ideal number of concurrent CHT cycles should be when using modern involved-field RT techniques
after accurate disease staging.