纵隔淋巴结包膜外软组织受侵对ⅢA—N2期NSCLC术后放疗效果的预测作用

目的 探讨淋巴结包膜外软组织受侵(ECE)对ⅢA—N2期NSCLC术后放疗效果的预测价值.方法 共纳入2008—2009年220例术后ⅢA—N2期NSCLC患者,均接受了术后化疗,其中43例接受了术后放疗;按ECE(+)和ECE(-)分成两组,然后依照术后单纯化疗(non-PORT)和术后同步放化疗(PORT)行亚组分析.采用Kaplan-Meier法计算PFS、OS并Logrank检验和单因素预后分析,Cox模型多因素预后分析.结果 单因素分析显示ECE(-)组PFS、OS均优于ECE(+)组(P=0.000、0.000);ECE+组内PORT亚组和non-PORT亚组间PFS、OS均相近(P=0.584、0.723),ECE(-)组内PORT亚组PFS明显优于non-PORT亚组(P=0.039),但OS相近(P=0.125).多因素分析提示ECE是影响ⅢA—N2期非小细胞肺癌PFS和OS的独立预后因素(P=0.001、0.020).结论 ECE是ⅢA—N2期NSCLC的独立预后因素,它有可能作为ⅢA—N2期NSCLC术后放疗选择的依据.     

899例非小细胞肺癌完全切除术后的多因素生存分析

背景与目的:非小细胞肺癌non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)的多学科治疗已有十多年.诊断技术及治疗策略的改进有可能导致NSCLC的预后影响因素的改变.本文探讨NSCLC完全切除术后的预后影响因素.方法:收集1997年1月～2001年4月行完全切除术的899例NSCLC病例资料及随访资料.采用Kaplan-Meier进行生存分析.Cox模型进行多因素生存分析.结果:全组5年生存率为43.5%,中位生存期48个月.其中ⅠA期、ⅠB期、ⅡA期、ⅡB期、ⅢA期、ⅢB期、Ⅳ期的5年生存率分别为81.0%、60.3%、56.9%、45.7%、23.5%、20.8%、13.0%;单因素分析显示T分期、N分期、M分期、组织学类型、组织分化、腺癌Ⅱ期及Ⅳ期化疗、腺癌N2期术后纵隔放疗为预后影响因素;多因素分析显示组织学类型、T分期、N分期、M分期及腺癌N2期术后纵隔放疗是NSCLC独立预后因素.结论:除T分期、N分期、M分期外,组织学类型及腺癌N2期术后纵隔放疗也是完全切除NSCLC的独立预后因素.     

放射治疗在N2期非小细胞肺癌中的地位

1重视N2期非小细胞肺癌(N2期NSCLC)治疗的理由所谓N2期NSCLC是指病理诊断为原发性非小细胞肺癌伴有隆突下和或同一侧纵隔淋巴结转移者。需要重视N2期NSCLC的理由包括:1.1N2期NSCLC是NSCLC主要临床期别由于至今尚无有效的早期诊断的方法,因此NSCLC待确诊时绝大多数为中晚期患者,其中N2期NSCLC所占比例约20%[1,2]。     

两种纵隔淋巴结清扫方式治疗的219例ⅢA期非小细胞肺癌患者生存分析

背景与目的:在可切除的ⅢA期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)患者手术治疗中,如何正确处理纵隔淋巴结对预后非常关键,目前国内外学者对ⅢA期NSCLC患者纵隔淋巴结的清扫范围有较大争议.本研究目的在于探讨以两种纵隔淋巴结清扫方式对NSCLC患者生存的影响.方法:回顾性分析1999年1月至2004年1月,在新疆医科大学附属肿瘤医院外科行完全性切除术的219例ⅢA期NSCLC患者的临床资料及生存状况,其中109例采用采样式纵隔淋巴结清扫术(mediastinal lymph node sampling,LS),110例采用系统纵隔淋巴结清扫术(systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy,SML).寿命表法和Kaplan-Meier法比较累积生存率及中位生存时间,Cox多因素生存模型分析影响生存的主要因素.结果:LS组患者术后1、3、5年生存率分别为82%、28%、13%,SML组分别为88%、37%、16%,两组术后中位生存期分别为20.0、23.5个月,有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Cox多因素分析结果表明,病理类型、纵隔淋巴结转移状况、纵隔淋巴结清扫方式是影响ⅢA期NSCLC N1或N2转移患者预后的因素(P＜0.05).结论:对可手术治疗的ⅢA期NSCLC患者行系统性纵隔淋巴结清扫可以提高生存率.     

Ⅲ期N2非小细胞肺癌的围手术期化疗

Ⅲ期N2非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)占临床就诊肺癌患者的1/3以上,其5年生存率约为15%。从治疗学的观点看,肺癌97国际分期中的ⅢA N2期,是一个异质性非常明显的组合,包括术后才发现纵隔淋巴结镜下转移的N2,也包括了影像学上纵隔淋巴结肿大的单站N2或多站N2,更包括了多站纵隔淋巴结已融合成团的N2。     

cⅠ期周围型NSCLC纵隔淋巴结廓清范围的临床研究

目的:探讨cⅠ期周围型非小细胞肺癌(nonsmall cell lung cancer,NSCLC)纵隔淋巴结合理的廓清范围。方法:回顾性研究196例行系统性纵隔淋巴结廓清的cⅠ期周围型NSCLC患者的临床资料,分析临床病理特征与纵隔淋巴结转移的关系。结果:28例患者术后病理证实为N2,占14.3%(28/196),腺癌、鳞癌患者的纵隔淋巴结转移的发生率分别为18.8%(22/117)、7.6%(6/79),两者相比差异有统计学意义,P=0.023。ⅠA期、ⅠB期患者的发生率分别为7.5%(5/67)、17.8%(23/129),两者相比差异有统计学意义,P=0.049。上叶肿瘤纵隔淋巴结转移80.0%在上纵隔,下叶肿瘤纵隔淋巴结转移76.5%在下纵隔,上、下叶肿瘤均可发生隆突下淋巴结转移。结论:cⅠ期周围型NSCLC应行包括隆突下淋巴结在内的选择性区域纵隔淋巴结廓清。     

ⅢA(N2)期非小细胞肺癌术后失败模式分析

背景与目的 术后放疗可降低局部复发率,但是否可提高IIIA(N2)期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)生存率依然存在争议.本文将分析术后放疗的疗效、术后失败的方式及影响局部复发的因素.方法 回顾性分析IIIA(N2)NSCLC行肺切除加纵隔淋巴结清扫术,术后失败模式在局部和(或)远处,分析术后放疗对其的疗效.影响局部复发的因素及不同原发部位与术后局部复发方式的关系.结果 多因素分析显示T分期(P<0.001)、术后病理(P=0.038)、手术方式(P=0.013)及转移淋巴结组数(P=0.018)是独立的复发因素.袖状切除局部复发多出现在残端(P<0.001),而肺叶和全肺切除纵隔淋巴结复发多(P=0.025);鳞癌易发生纵隔淋巴结的复发(P=0.023),腺癌易出现远处转移(P=0.001),T分期中T1与T2-3纵隔淋巴结区的复发率分别为36.4%、62.0%(P=0.009).原发郎位不同出现的局部复发部位不同.结论 IIIA(N2)期NSCLC术后病理、T分期、手术方式是独立的复发因素.术后复发部位与手术方式、肿瘤T分期、病理类型、原发郎位有关.     

PET/CT纵隔淋巴结SUVmax与N0~N 1期非小细胞肺癌手术患者预后相关性的研究

  目的  评价NSCLC患者行根治性切除术后, 纵隔淋巴结组织学检查阴性(N0~N1期)的患者术前纵隔淋巴结FDG摄取水平对患者预后的意义。  方法  回顾性总结了2005年4月至2009年5月在天津医科大学附属肿瘤医院行PET/CT检查后接受手术治疗的N0~N1期NSCLC患者的PET/CT数据、术后随访资料及临床资料。运用Kaplan-Meier法及Log-rank检验对纵隔淋巴结SUV_max以及性别、年龄、组织学类型、TNM分期、术后辅助治疗、原发病灶SUV_max等分别与患者生存时间进行单因素生存分析, 采用Cox回归风险比例模型对影响预后的各因素进行多因素生存分析。  结果  单因素分析表明, 术前PET/CT纵隔淋巴结SUV_max(P=0.001)以及TNM分期(P < 0.001)、原发病灶SUV_max(P=0.001)、是否有术后辅助治疗(P=0.012)对N0~N1期NSCLC患者术后预后存在预测作用; 多因素分析表明, 只有TNM分期(P=0.017)、原发病灶SUV_max(P=0.027)及纵隔淋巴结SUV_max(P=0.046)是影响本组NSCLC患者术后生存的独立预后因素, 三者的相对危险度分别为2.230, 2.179及1.962。  结论  对于N0~N1期的NSCLC术后患者, 术前PET/CT纵隔淋巴结SUV_max、TNM分期、原发病灶SUV_max均是影响患者术后生存的因素。将三者结合起来, 对于指导临床尽早制定术后个体化治疗方案、延长患者生存期具有重要意义。      

纵隔镜检查非小细胞肺癌斜角肌前与病灶对侧纵隔淋巴结转移的评价

目的 探讨行纵隔镜检查非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)斜角肌前淋巴结或病灶对侧纵隔淋巴结转移(N3期)的临床特征.方法 89例Ⅰ～ⅢA期NSCLC患者开胸术前行经颈纵隔镜检查,其中12例联合斜角肌活检术,10例联合前纵隔切开术检查N3组淋巴结的病理状况.结果 纵隔镜检查显示,有9例患者不宜再行开胸手术,其中3例为右斜角肌淋巴结转移;6例为病灶对侧纵隔淋巴结转移.统计学分析显示,肺腺癌组的N3期发生率高于非腺癌组(P＜0.05),血清CEA≥15.0 ng/ml组的N3期发生率高于＜5.0 ng/ml组(P＜0.05),同侧纵隔淋巴结多站转移组的N3期发生率高于同侧单站转移组(P＜0.05).结论 对临床上为腺癌、血清CEA升高、病灶同侧纵隔淋巴结多站转移的NSCLC患者,推荐行病灶对侧纵隔淋巴结、斜角肌前淋巴结活检,以排除N3期病变.纵隔镜检查为NSCLC的多学科治疗提供了依据.     

ⅢA(N2)期非小细胞肺癌完全切除术后影响预后和局部复发的因素

非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung carcinoma,NSCLC)约占全部肺癌的80%。据2009肺癌国际分期,ⅢA(N2)期 NSCLC包含分期为T1~3N 2M 0期,即病理诊断为原发性NSCLC同时伴隆突下淋巴结和(或)同侧纵隔淋巴结转移者。ⅢA(N₂)期NSCLC所占比例约20%,手术是国内常用的治疗方法。根据ⅢA期NSCLC完全切除术后治疗失败表型看, 局部区域复发率为23%~33%,远处转移率在50%以上。研究报道ⅢA(N₂)期 NSCLC 完全切除术后5年生存率在6%~35%, 完全手术切除后患者是一个异质性明显的疾病组合, 不同临床和病理因素可能决定了不同预后及不同治疗策略。目前临床上进行了广泛的研究以明确可能影响生存或局部复发的预后因素, 以便对N₂期患者进一步细分为预后同质性良好的亚组, 有助于指导术后治疗的个体化实施。文献中报道的影响ⅢA(N₂)期NSCLC完全手术切除后生存和局部复发的临床或病理因素的预测价值仍存在争议, 各研究结果间不尽相同。笔者从生存和局部区域复发两方面综述ⅢA(N₂)期NSCLC完全切除术后相关的临床和病理预后因素, 为指导术后辅助治疗提供参考依据。     

应用倾向评分匹配法评价ⅢA-N2期非小细胞肺癌术后放疗的价值

 目的 分析ⅢA-N2期非小细胞肺癌根治术后辅助放疗（postoperative radiotherapy, PORT）的作用。方法 收集313例非小细胞肺癌根治术后化疗后的ⅢA-N2期患者的临床资料,对PORT（+）组及PORT（-）组资料应用倾向评分匹配方法均衡组间协变量差异,观察两组生存及局控,分析术后放疗的作用及获益人群。结果 匹配后两组患者中,PORT（+）组与PORT（-）组3、5年生存率分别为76.5%、58.3%和52.1%、40.6%（P=0.162）;3、5年局部控制率分别为82.9%、73.7%和56.5%、42.4%（P=0.036）;3、5年无进展生存率分别为74.8%、65.5%和39.5%、29.6%（P=0.021）。分层分析发现术后放疗可降低隆突下淋巴结转移、肿瘤最大径≥3cm、多站转移、非跳跃转移及术前N2亚组的局部复发风险。结论 术后放疗可提高ⅢA-N2期非小细胞肺癌术后化疗后局部控制率及无进展生存率;亚组分析中隆突下淋巴结转移、肿瘤最大径≥3 cm、多站转移、非跳跃转移及术前N2者获益较大。     

Use of postoperative radiotherapy for node-positive non-small-cell lung cancer

The appropriate patient selection for adjuvant radiotherapy after primary surgical therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. Four thousand thirteen patients diagnosed from 1988-1995 in 9 registry areas of the Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results program who received primary surgical therapy for pathologic stage T1-3 N1/2 M0 NSCLC were identified. County-level and patient-specific variables associated with the use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) were studied by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Prognostic factors for cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were determined by Cox multivariate analysis. Overall, 58% of node-positive patients received PORT. Use of PORT was independently associated with younger age, more advanced nodal disease, no prior cancer, less extensive surgery than pneumonectomy, and patient residence close to a radiotherapy facility. In multivariate analysis of the entire node-positive population, there were no differences in OS or CSS with the use of PORT. In the patients with N2 disease, PORT was associated with improved OS (5-year OS: 16% without PORT, 22% with PORT; P = 0.001) and CSS (5-year CSS: 25% without PORT, 30% with PORT; P = 0.02). Additionally, patients with = 4 nodes involved also had an improved survival in association with PORT (5-year OS: 11% without PORT, 18% with PORT; P = 0.001; 5-year CSS: 17% without PORT, 25% with PORT; P = 0.009). Therefore, recognizing the inherent limitations of a retrospective, registry-based analysis, patients with more advanced nodal disease appear to have an improved survival with the use of PORT.     

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® postoperative adjuvant therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Therapeutic options for postoperative adjuvant treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continue to evolve, and may include postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and chemotherapy, alone or in combination. The use of platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy has been demonstrated to confer an improvement in overall survival in patients with completely resected, stage N1 or N2 NSCLC, in several randomized trials and 2 meta-analyses. Consideration may also be given to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with node-negative NSCLC, when the primary tumor is >4 cm, based on subset analyses of recent prospective studies. The precise role of PORT is less well defined. Older randomized studies indicated that the toxicity of PORT outweighed the potential improvement in local control, but studies using more modern radiation techniques show significantly reduced toxicity, inferring that select patients may benefit. Relative indications for PORT include the presence of mediastinal lymph nodes, positive surgical margins, and considerations with regard to the extent and type of resection. This study by the lung cancer expert panel of the American College of Radiology summarizes the recent evidence-based literature that addresses the use of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC, illustrated with clinical scenarios. The sequencing of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is discussed, along with issues regarding radiotherapy dose and fractionation, and the appropriate use of intensity modulated radiation therapy and particle therapy.     

Cardiopulmonary morbidity and quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with or without postoperative radiotherapy

Aim

To prospectively assess the cardiopulmonary morbidity and quality of life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in comparison to those not receiving PORT.

Materials and methods

From 2003 to 2007, 291 patients entered the study; 171 pN2 patients received 3D-planned PORT (PORT group), 120 pN1 patients (non-PORT group) did not. One month after surgery, all patients completed EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire and had pulmonary function tests (PFT); cardiopulmonary symptoms were assessed by modified LENT-SOM scale. Two years later, disease-free patients repeated the same examinations. The differences between baseline values and values recorded at two years in QLQ, LENT-SOM and the PFT of the two groups were compared.

Results

In the whole cohort, the rate of non-cancer related deaths was 5.3% and 5.0% in PORT and non-PORT group, respectively. Ninety-five patients (47 - PORT group, 48 - non-PORT group) were included into the final analysis. The differences in the QLQ and cardiopulmonary function (LENT/SOM, PFT) between both groups were insignificant. The forced expiratory volume in one second was on average 12.2% and 1.3% better in the PORT and the non-PORT group, respectively, p = 0.2.

Conclusions

Our findings support the hypothesis about insignificant morbidity of 3D-planned PORT.     

胸腺瘤术后辅助放疗的现状及进展

手术切除是胸腺瘤最重要的治疗手段,然而,术后辅助放疗的作用一直存在不同争议。二维放疗时代多数获益不明显,精准放疗技术已使肿瘤放疗发生了较大的变化,胸腺瘤术后放疗价值也可能在改变。目前,放疗在手术切缘阳性或无法行手术切除者的作用是肯定的;在完整手术切除者中,Masaoka-Koga分期Ⅰ期患者无需术后辅助放疗,Ⅱ期患者术后辅助放疗作用争议较大,如果放疗宜考虑Ⅱb期、大体积、B2/B3型等因素;Ⅲ期术后辅助放疗也存在争议,但是多数结果倾向行术后放疗。术后辅助放疗宜采用精准放疗技术,照射范围建议瘤床三维外扩0.5 cm,肿瘤累及的纵隔胸膜及沿纵隔胸膜前后、头脚方向0.5～1.0 cm,肺侧纵隔胸膜为0.5 cm以内,以及肿瘤周血管壁和部分血管间隙,避免包括过多的正常组织。剂量在完全切除时为45~50Gy,非完全切除为54~60Gy或稍高,可能会使放疗获益增加和风险下降。质子、重离子等新型放疗技术的应用可获得剂量学方面的优势,是否能转化为临床获益还需进一步探究。     

Role of adjuvant radiotherapy in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer

Most long-term survivors of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are patients who have had a completely resected tumour. However, this is only achievable in about 30% of the patients. Even in this highly selected group of patients, there is still a high risk of both local and distant failure. Adjuvant treatments such as chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) have therefore been evaluated in order to improve their outcome. In patients with stage II and III, administration of adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is now considered the standard of care, based on level 1 evidence. The role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) remains controversial. In the PORT meta-analysis published in 1998, the conclusions were that if PORT was detrimental to patients with stage I and II completely resected NSCLC, the role of PORT in the treatment of tumours with N2 involvement was unclear and further research was warranted. Thus at present, after complete resection, adjuvant radiotherapy should not be administered in patients with early lung cancer. Recent retrospective and non-randomised studies, as well as subgroup analyses of recent randomised trials evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy, provide evidence of the possible benefit of PORT in patients with mediastinal nodal involvement. The role of PORT needs to be evaluated also for patients with proven N2 disease who undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. The risk of local recurrence for N2 patients varies between 20% and 60%. Based on currently available data, PORT should be discussed for fit patients with completely resected NSCLC with N2 nodal involvement, preferably after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy or after surgery if patients have had preoperative chemotherapy. There is a need for new randomised evidence to reassess PORT using modern three-dimensional conformal radiation technique, with attention to normal organ sparing, particularly lung and heart, to reduce the possible over-added toxicity. Quality assurance of radiotherapy as well as quality of surgery – and most particularly nodal exploration modality – should both be monitored. A new large multi-institutional randomised trial Lung ART evaluating PORT in this patient population is needed and is now under way.     

Role of postoperative radiotherapy in resected non-small cell lung cancer: a reassessment based on new data

In completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with pathologically involved mediastinal lymph nodes (N2), administration of adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is now considered the standard of care, based on level 1 evidence. The role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in this group of patients remains controversial. The PORT meta-analysis published in 1998 concluded that adjuvant radiotherapy was detrimental to patients with early-stage completely resected NSCLC, but that the role of PORT in the treatment of tumors with N2 involvement was unclear, and that further research was warranted. Recent retrospective and nonrandomized studies, as well as subgroup analyses of recent randomized trials evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy, provide evidence of the possible benefit of PORT in patients with mediastinal nodal involvement. The role of PORT is also a valid question in patients with proven N2 disease who have undergone only induction chemotherapy followed by surgery, because the local recurrence rate for such patients varies in the range of 20%-60%. Based on the currently available data, PORT should be discussed for fit patients with completely resected NSCLC with N2 nodal involvement, preferably after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. There is a need for new randomized evidence to evaluate PORT using the modern three-dimensional conformal radiation technique, with attention paid to reducing the risk for, particularly, pulmonary and cardiac toxicity. A new large multi-institutional randomized trial evaluating PORT in this patient population is needed and now under way.     

原发肿瘤大小及淋巴结转移状况与非小细胞肺癌术后放疗价值关系

目的 分析影响淋巴结阳性非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)术后放疗疗效的因素.方法 回顾性分析480例接受根治性手术的N_1～N_2期NSCLC患者,其中267例患者接受了术后化疗,121例接受了术后放疗.根据N分期、原发肿瘤最大径及淋巴结转移度(阳性淋巴结个数占清扫淋巴结总数的百分率)分别分组,分析术后放疗在各组中的应用价值.观察终点为局部无复发生存率(LRFS)及总生存率(OS).采用Kaplan-Meier法及Cox回归分析各临床因素对术后放疗疗效的影响.结果 对于N_2期患者,术后放疗能改善总生存率,淋巴结转移度及原发肿瘤大小均对术后放疗价值有明显影响.根据淋巴结转移度及原发肿瘤直径将N_2期病例分为以下三组:第一组肿瘤直径≤3 cm并且淋巴结转移度≤33%,第二组符合下列条件中一项:肿瘤直径>3 cm或淋巴结转移度>33%,第三组肿瘤直径>3 cm并且淋巴结转移度>33%.三组患者接受术后放疗和未接受术后放疗的5年LRFS分别为55%和60%(χ~2=0.03,P=0.869),42%和50%(χ~2=0.31,P=0.547),62%和52%(χ~2=4.25,P=0.036);5年0s分别为22%和50%(χ~2=1.65,P=0.199),26%和22%(χ~2=0.13,P=0.786),42%和16%(χ~2=15.33,P=0.000).结论 原发肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移度明显影响NSCLC术后放疗疗效,对肿瘤直径>3 cm且淋巴结转移度>33%的N_2期NSCLC,加用术后放疗能提高患者局部控制率及生存率.     

Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy After Curative Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Pathological Stage N2 Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in the setting of adjuvant chemotherapy for pathological stage N2 (pN2) non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Materials and MethodsA retrospective review of 219 consecutive pN2 NSCLC patients who underwent curative surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy was performed. Forty-one patients additionally received PORT. Propensity scores for PORT receipt were individually calculated and used for matching to compare the outcome between patients who did (+) and did not (-) receive PORT. One hundred eleven patients in the PORT (-) group and 38 patients in PORT (+) group were matched. Clinical and pathologic characteristics were well-balanced.ResultsThe median follow-up duration was 48 months. In the matched patients, PORT resulted in a significantly lower crude locoregional relapse (43.2% vs. 23.7%; P = .032). Also, PORT was associated with improved locoregional control (LRC) rate (5-year LRC 63.7% vs. 48.6%; P = .036), but not distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival. An exploratory subgroup analysis suggested a potential DFS benefit of PORT in patients with multiple station mediastinal lymph node metastases (5-year DFS, 43.2% vs. 16.6%; P = .037) and squamous cell carcinoma histology (5-year DFS, 70.1% vs. 23.3%; P = .011).ConclusionsEven in the setting of adjuvant chemotherapy, PORT significantly increased LRC for patients with curatively resected pN2 NSCLC. Some subgroups appear to benefit from PORT in terms of DFS and LRC. Individualized strategies based on risk factors might be considered.     

Modern post-operative radiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer may improve local control and survival: A meta-analysis

Background

We hypothesized that modern postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) could decrease local recurrence (LR) and improve overall survival (OS) in patients with stage IIIA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

To investigate the effect of modern PORT on LR and OS, we identified published phase III trials for PORT and stratified them according to use or non-use of linear accelerators. Non-individual patient data were used to model the potential benefit of modern PORT in stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC treated with induction chemotherapy and resection.

Results

Of the PORT phase III studies, eleven trials (2387 patients) were included for OS analysis and eight (1677 patients) for LR. PORT decreased LR, whether given with cobalt, cobalt and linear accelerators, or with linear accelerators only. An increase in OS was only seen when PORT was given with linear accelerators, along with the most significant effect on LR (relative risk for LR and OS 0.31 (p = 0.01) and 0.76 (p = 0.02) for PORT vs. controls, respectively).Four trials (357 patients) were suitable to assess LR rates in stage III NSCLC treated with surgery, in most cases after induction chemotherapy. LR as first relapse was 30% (105/357) after 5 years. In the modeling part, PORT with linear accelerators was estimated to reduce LR rates to 10% as first relapse and to increase the absolute 5-year OS by 13%.

Conclusions

This modeling study generates the hypothesis that modern PORT may increase both LR and OS in stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC even in patients being treated with induction chemotherapy and surgery.