Chemotherapy and Late Course Three Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Treatment of Patients with Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and complications of chemotherapy and late course three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in treating patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were divided into two groups: to receive chemotherapy and late course 3DCRT (3DCRT group), or chemotherapy and conventional fraction radiation (control group). In the 3DCRT-group, patients were given 6~15 MV X-rays with a total dose of 40 Gy, followed by 3DCRT, 2.5 Gy~3.0 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction/ every day, total 68 Gy~70 Gy; in the control group, with conventional fraction radiation the total dose was 64~66 Gy. The chemotherapy regimen in both cases was EP (VP-16 and DDP). RESULTS: Sixty four patients with stage III NSCLC were divided into two groups: 32 patients into 3DCRT, 32 into the control group. One and 2-year survival rates in 3DCRT and control group were 87.5%, 56.3%mad 65.6%, 34.4%, respectively (P<0.05); local control rates were 90.6%, 81.3% and 65.6%, 53.1%, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy and late course 3DCRT is associated with improved survival rate in patients with stage III NSCLC with good tolerability.