Artikel
Induction Chemotherapy vs. Adjuvant Radiation in Surgical Patients with Stage III NSCLC
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Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 14. Oktober 2013 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: Induction chemotherapy remains controversial in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our algorithm in locally advanced (T4) NSCLC or N2 lymph node disease allows the surgeon to decide between surgery followed by radiation treatment or inductive chemotherapy, surgery if possible and radiation if necessary. The decision depends on whether primary tumor and lymph nodes appear resectable. Our results are presented.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with stage III NSCLC receiving either inductive chemotherapy, surgery and adjuvant radiation if necessary (group A) or primary resection followed by adjuvant radiation (group B). From 2006 to 2011 we enrolled 197 consecutive patients (group A: n=73; group B: n=124). In group A 61 patients (83.6%) were N2 lymph node positive compared to 121 (97.6%) in group B. In the induction group 7 patients developed progressive disease and were excluded.
Results: Thirty day mortality was 0% in group A and 0.8% in group B (n=1). Histologically tumor free margins were achieved in 55 patients in group A (75.2%) and and 79 patients in group B (64.1%, p=n.s.). Five year survival was 33.3% in group A compared to 28.4% in group B (p=n.s.).
Conclusion: Considering that patients in the inductive group were thought to be inoperable the 5 year survival is promising. Surgery should be considered as a therapeutic option in locally advanced NSCLC even if N2 level lymph nodes are involved.