Comparison of survival outcomes among standard radiotherapy regimens in limited-stage small cell lung cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation

Lung Cancer. 2015 Nov;90(2):243-8. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.08.002. Epub 2015 Aug 8.

Abstract

Objectives: The optimal radiotherapy dose in concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is controversial. We compared the effectiveness of several high-dose chemoradiation regimens using a large national dataset.

Materials and methods: Patients with non-metastatic SCLC treated with concurrent CRT were identified in the National Cancer Database base. Overall survival (OS) of patients receiving dose-fractionation regimens, matching those in the ongoing CALGB 30610 trial [45 Gy in 30 fractions (Fx) (45 Gy/30Fx), 70 Gy in 35 fractions (70 Gy/35Fx), and 61.2 Gy in 34 fractions (61.2 Gy/34Fx)], were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling.

Results: We included 1228 patients treated between 1998 and 2006 with CRT. Mean age was 62 years and 50% of patients were women. Radiotherapy dose-fractionation was 45 Gy/30Fx in 707 (57.6%), 70 Gy/35Fx in 53 (4.3%), and 61.2 Gy/34Fx in 468 (38.1%). Overall survival was similar among patients treated with 45 Gy/30Fx, 70 Gy/35Fx, and 61.2 Gy/34Fx, with median survival times of 21.5, 21.5, and 20.2 months, respectively (p=0.438). Older age, male sex, larger tumor size, and more advanced stage were associated with inferior OS on Kaplan-Meier (all p<0.001). Cox proportional hazards modeling adjusting for these factors demonstrated similar OS among patients receiving these three dose-fractionation regimens (p=0.815).

Conclusions: We observed equivalent OS among patients with limited-stage SCLC being treated with three dose-fractionation regimens of concurrent CRT. This supports the use of any one of these regimens while awaiting the results of ongoing randomized trials.

Keywords: Dose; Fractionation; Limited; NCDB; Radiotherapy; Small Cell.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / mortality*
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / pathology
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / therapy*