ONCOmmunity

Impact of the Radiation Dose and Completion of Palliative Radiotherapy on Survival in Patients Treated for Locally Advanced Lung Cancer.

By: Stefan Janssen, Lukas Kaesmann, Steven E Schild, Dirk Rades

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Medical Practice for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Hannover, Germany.
2016-1-20; doi:

Abstract

Aim

To compare three total radiation dose levels for their impact on survival in patients receiving palliative radiotherapy (RT) for locally advanced lung cancer.

Patients

Radiation dose (equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions=EQD2: 31-40 Gy vs. 41-46 Gy vs. 47-52 Gy), completion of RT as planned, plus nine factors were analyzed for survival in 125 patients.

Results

On multivariate analysis, EQD2 47-52 Gy (p=0.018), completion of planned RT (p=0.002), lower T-category (p=0.027) and lower N-category (p=0.008) were positively associated with survival. Thirty-six patients (29%) could not receive the complete planned RT dose, 19% in the 31-40 Gy group, 36% in the 41-46 Gy group and 31% in the 47-52 Gy group, respectively. Six-month survival rates of these patients were 0%, 18% and 18%, respectively.

Conclusion

Higher RT doses resulted in significantly better survival than lower doses. The favorable results were impaired when the planned treatment could not be completed.