Chemoradiotherapy in limited-disease small-cell lung cancer. (August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fukuda, Minoru; Ogawara, Daiki; Nakamura, Yoichi; Kohno, Shigeru
• Is Part Of: Lung cancer management. Volume 1:Number 2(2012)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2012-08
• Subjects: Lungs -- Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.99424
• DOI: 10.2217/lmt.12.21
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-1966

Abstract

SUMMARY Systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for small-cell lung cancer. A third of small-cell lung cancer patients present with limited disease; in this population, thoracic radiotherapy caused a 14% reduction in the mortality rate, and benefit in terms of overall survival at 3 years was 5.4% as compared with chemotherapy alone. Although the optimal schedule and volume of thoracic radiotherapy remain controversial, early twice-daily concurrent radiotherapy with etoposide plus cisplatin is recommended. Prophylactic cranial irradiation is recommended for patients with any response to first-line treatment. Maintenance and dose-intense treatment is not recommended outside of clinical trials. Large randomized trials that compare standard-dose radiation therapy of 45 Gy in twice-daily fractions for 3 weeks with once-daily schedules with a higher total dose are ongoing. The incorporation of new drugs is warranted for future combined modality treatment.