Chemoradiation therapy in patients (pts) with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with pericardial effusion but no distant metastasis

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 27; no. 15_suppl; p. 7555
• Main Authors: Niho, S., Kubota, K., Yoh, K., Goto, K., Ohmatsu, H., Saijo, N., Nishiwaki, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 20.05.2009
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2009.27.15_suppl.7555

Abstract only 7555 Background: Our previous retrospective analysis demonstrated that the survival of the limited-disease (LD) SCLC pts with ipsilateral pleural effusion was intermediate between those of LD pts without ipsilateral pleural effusion and extensive-disease (ED) pts, and that long-term survival was achieved by LD-SCLC pts with ipsilateral pleural effusion who successfully underwent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (J Thorac Oncol 2008;3:723–7). We retrospectively investigated the clinical course and outcome in pts with SCLC with pericardial effusion but no distant metastasis and examined the overall survival in pts who received chemotherapy and definitive thoracic radiotherapy (TRT). Methods: The medical records of SCLC pts who received treatment at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between July 1992 and December 2007 were reviewed. During this period 767 pts were newly diagnosed as having SCLC. Four-hundred seventeen pts had no distant metastasis. Ninety-six of those 417 pts (23%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 19–27%) had pleural or pericardial effusion or disseminated pleural nodules, and were included in this study. The 96 pts were divided into two groups: group A included pts with pericardial effusion (n=33), and group B included pts who had pleural effusion and/or disseminated pleural nodules, but did not have pericardial effusion (n=63). Sixteen pts had both pleural and pericardial effusion. Results: All but one patient received systemic chemotherapy. A remaining patient with pleural effusion received only best supportive care. In group A, 19 pts received chemoradiotherapy. TRT was conducted concurrently with 3 or 4 cycles of chemotherapy in 12 pts and sequentially in 7 pts. The response rate for first-line chemotherapy was 79%. In group B, 26 pts received chemoradiotherapy. Survival data were shown as below. Conclusions: Long-term survival was seldom achieved by SCLC pts with pericardial effusion but no distant metastasis, even if they underwent chemoradiotherapy. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.