Radiation dose escalation in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer

Purpose: To review the treatment outcomes of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients treated with greater than or equal to50 Gy of radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) between 1987 and 2000 and to assess for evidence of a continuation of a radiation dose response. Methods and Materials: The NIGH cancer registry was searched for SCLC patients treated with radiotherapy between 1987 and 2000. Records of LS-SCLC patients treated with curative intent and radiation doses greater than or equal to50 Gy at NIGH were reviewed. Surgical patients were excluded. Results: Eighty-four LS-SCLC patients were treated with radiotherapy at NIGH between 1987 and 2000. Of the 84 patients, 54 (64%) met the inclusion criteria; 30 patients (56%) in this study died, and 4 (7%) were lost to follow-up. The median follow-up of the surviving patients was 42 months. The median overall survival was 29 months. The 2- and 5-year survival rate was 64% and 47%, respectively. The local control rate at 3 years was 78%. Conclusion: The overall survival, local control, and disease-free survival rates for LS-SCLC patients treated with greater than or equal to50 Gy of radiation compare favorably with historical data. These findings suggest a continuation of the radiation dose-response curve in LS-SCLC. This further supports the need for appropriately powered, Phase III, prospective randomized trials in radiation dose escalation or radiation dose intensification for LS-SCLC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc.