Radiotherapy combined with CAP regimen chemotherapy for postoperative stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC)

ObjectiveTo study the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy combined with CAP regimen chemotherapy for postoperative stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).MethodsFrom August 1985 to August 1996,162 patients of postoperative stage Ⅲ NSCLC were randomized into combined group radiotherapy and chemotherapy with CAP regimen and radiotherapy group radiotherapy alone for a prospective study.1.25MV 60Co photon was conducted using 2 fields to deliver 40～70Gy.Chemotherapy was given every 4 weeks for 4～6 cycles after radiotherapy in combined group.Both groups were followed up for 5 years.ResultsThe one ,three and five-year survival rates were 93.8%(72/81),50.6%(41/81),34.6%(28/81) in combined group and 83.9%(68/81),32.1%(26/81),19.8%(16/81) in radiotherapy group,respectively, indicating that it was better in the former than in the latter(P0.05).The local control rates were 60.7%(37/61)in combined group and 61.5%(40/65) in radiotherapy group,showing no significant difference (P0.05).But there was a significant difference in distant metastasis between two groups,18%(11/61) in combined group and 32.3%(21/65) in radiotherapy group.ConclusionRadiotherapy and chemotherapy with CAP regimen has good effecst on postoperative stage Ⅲ NSCLC and is worth further studying in the clinical.