Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by either continuous hyper-fractionated accelerated radiation therapy week-end less or conventional chemo-radiotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC-A randomised prospective single institute study

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and therapeutics Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 860 - 866
• Main Authors: Kumar, Rajesh, Kumar, H, Paramanandhan, Murali, Purohit, Ramesh, Sharma, Neeti, Jakhar, S, Sharma, Satynarayan, Maharia, Sitaram, Rai, Rahul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Adjuvant chemotherapy; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - radiotherapy; Chemoradiotherapy; Chemotherapy; Dose Fractionation, Radiation; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Non-small cell lung cancer; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Radiation (Physics); Radiation therapy; Radiotherapy; Survival Rate; neo-adjuvant chemotherapy; continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy week end-less; Concomitant chemoradiotherapy; nonsmall cell lung carcinoma; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
• DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_377_16
• ISSN: 0973-1482; 1998-4138

Context: Better locoregional control and increased overall survival by continuous hyper fractionated accelerated radiotherapy have been shown in unresectable nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Dose escalation and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) along with continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy week end-less (CHARTWEL) were also tried for improved survival. In this present study, we compared the results of NACT followed by CHARTWEL against NACT followed by conventional concurrent chemo-radiation therapy. Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the locoregional control and toxicities in NSCLC Stage IIIA and B in both arms. Settings and Design: Randomized, prospective single-institutional study with a study population comprising all locally advanced unresectable NSCLC patients enrolled in 2014 at our institute. Subjects and Methods: All enrolled patients were randomized into two arms-CHARTWEL and concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT), after three weeks of the fourth cycle of NACT. In CHARTWEL arm 30 patients received two-dimensional radiotherapy (RT) 58.5 Gy/39 fr/2.5 weeks while in CCRT arm 30 received 66 Gy/33 fr/6.5 weeks. Disease response was evaluated at 6 months and toxicity assessment during and after treatment completion. Data were analyzed using tools such as percentage, mean, Chi-square test and P value. Chi-square and P value was calculated by statistical online software (http://quantpsy.org). Results: 28% of patients in study arm and 20% in control arm had complete response at 6 months after RT. Locoregional disease control was observed in 44% in study arm and 32% in control arm of patients. There was no statistical difference in grades of toxicities or overall survival (OS)/disease-free survival except persistent esophagitis Grade III seen in two patients of study arm. Conclusions: Study suggests that CHARTWEL in combination with NACT is an effective strategy to treat patients with locally advanced lung cancer with the advantage of a smaller dose and shorter duration. Although large multivariate studies still needed.