Chemotherapy and Late Course Three Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Treatment of Patients with Stage Ⅲ Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: To compare the efficacy and complications of chemotherapy and late course three-dimensionalconformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in treating patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patientsand <br/><b>Methods</b>: All patients were divided into two groups: to receive chemotherapy and late course 3DCRT (3DCRTgroup), or chemotherapy and conventional fraction radiation (control group). In the 3DCRT-group, patients weregiven 6~15 MV X-rays with a total dose of 40 Gy, followed by 3DCRT, 2.5 Gy~3.0 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction/every day, total 68 Gy~70 Gy; in the control group, with conventional fraction radiation the total dose was 64~66Gy. The chemotherapy regimen in both cases was EP (VP-16 and DDP). <br/><b>Results</b>: Sixty four patients with stageIII NSCLC were divided into two groups: 32 patients into 3DCRT, 32 into the control group. One and 2-yearsurvival rates in 3DCRT and control group were 87.5%, 56.3%mad 65.6%, 34.4%, respectively (P<0.05); localcontrol rates were 90.6%, 81.3% and 65.6%, 53.1%, respectively (P<0.05). <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: Chemotherapy and latecourse 3DCRT is associated with improved survival rate in patients with stage III NSCLC with good tolerability.