Abstract
Aims and background: There is currently no consensus as to which chemotherapy to combine with thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) in the setting of definitive chemoradiation for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and report outcome measures of cisplatin/etoposide with conventionally fractionated TRT over a 9-year period.
Methods: Cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 and etoposide 50 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 and 29-33 with conventionally fractionated conformal radiation therapy starting on day 1 was given to 201 eligible patients. Patient records were reviewed for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results: The 2-year OS and PFS were 53% and 47%, respectively, while the 3-year OS and PFS were 18% and 17%, respectively. No grade 4 or treatment-related deaths were recorded, and grade 3 hematologic toxicity occurred in only 22 patients (11%) in the form of granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Multivariable analysis showed clinical stage and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status to statistically significantly affect PFS and OS.
Conclusions: Cisplatin and etoposide in these doses with conventionally fractionated TRT is a well-tolerated, effective treatment schedule in the definitive treatment of unresectable or inoperable NSCLC.