Radiation Results and Survival Rate of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Song, Mi Hee; Whang, In Soon; Oh, Won Yong

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve treatment modality and results by analysis of clinical characteristics. local control, survival and resurrence rate in limited stage small cell lung cancer.
METHODS
AND MATERIALS : 26 patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer were treated with combined radiation and chemotherapy from Feb. 1986 to Dec. 1992 at the National Medical Center. We followed up on 21 patients (81%) , who were mostly irradiated with 4,000-5,000cGy (75% of all patients) in the results by the analysis retrospectively. Survival rate was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS
Mean survival of irradiated patients with limited small cell lung cancer was 12 months. 1-year and 2-year survival rate were 65.3% and 15.4%. Tumor response rate and median survival after combined chemotherapy and irradiation were the following ; 50% and 15 months of complete response, and 23% and 11 months of partial response respectively. Response rates by radiation dose were 66% for below 4,000cGy. 69% for between 4,000-5,000cGy and 86% for above 5,000cGy. 21 of all patients showed treatment failure(81%), which as appeared 9 of local failure.9 of distant failure and 3 of local and distant failure.
CONCLUSION
Local response rate after induction chemotherapy alone in limited stage of small cell lung cancer was 54%. Furthermore it was increased to 73% after adding of radiation. We have to increase radiation dose above 5,000cGy and need to try new effective chemotherapy agents for the improvement of local control and survival rate and also will try concurrent chemoradiotherapy in near time.