Original Articles
Stage IIIA and IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results of Chemotherapy Combined With Radiation Therapy and Analysis of Prognostic Factors

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1579-2129(07)60086-XGet rights and content

OBJECTIVE

Most patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not candidates for surgery but can benefit from chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy. The objective of the present study was to analyze the results of sequential chemotherapy and radiation therapy and the prognostic value of initial clinical and laboratory variables.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective study of 92 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with a sequential regimen of chemotherapy (carboplatin–etoposide, carboplatin–gemcitabine, and carboplatin–paclitaxel), and radiation therapy (6000 cGy in daily doses of 200 cGy, 5 d/wk). Response to therapy, overall survival, and the prognostic value of epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Median survival time was 14 months, with a 3-year survival rate of 16.1%. Poor performance status (score of 2 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Group [ECOG] scale), anemia, and elevated serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen were predictive of poorer survival in the multivariate analysis. In the univariate analysis, weight loss and diagnosis before the year 2000 were also associated with poorer prognosis (P <.01). TNM stage was not significantly correlated (P=.08). Toxicity was low, with 1 death and few cases of grade 3 or 4 toxicity according to World Health Organization criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy should be considered contraindicated in cases of poor performance status (ECOG scale score of 2). Weight loss, an elevated serum concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen, and a hemoglobin concentration of less than 12 g/dL carry a poor prognosis.

OBJETIVO

La mayoría de los pacientes con carcinoma de pulmón no microcítico y estadio III no son candidatos a cirugía y pueden beneficiarse del tratamiento combinado con quimioterapia (QT) y radioterapia (RT). En este trabajo se han analizado los resultados de una pauta combinada secuencial y el valor pronóstico de variables clínicas y analíticas iniciales.

PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS

Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo de 92 pacientes con carcinoma de pulmón no microcítico y estadio III tratados con una pauta secuencial combinada de QT (3 combinaciones diferentes de carboplatino: con etopósido, con gencitabina y con paclitaxel) y RT (6.000 cGy: 200 cGy diarios, 5 días/semana). Se evaluaron la respuesta, la supervivencia global y el valor pronóstico de variables epidemiológicas, clínicas y analíticas mediante análisis univariante y multivariante.

RESULTADOS

La supervivencia mediana fue de 14 meses, con una supervivencia a los 3 años del 16,1%. El mal estado general–grado 2 de la escala del Eastern Cooperative Oncological Group (ECOG)–, la anemia y las concentraciones séricas elevadas de antígeno carcinoembrionario fueron predictivos de peor supervivencia en el modelo multivariante. Además, en el análisis univariante la pérdida de peso y los diagnosticados antes del año 2000 también se asociaron a peor pronóstico (p < 0,01). El grado TNM no alcanzó la significación estadística (p = 0,08). La toxicidad fue escasa; hubo una muerte y pocos casos de grados III y IV de la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

CONCLUSIONES

Un mal estado general (ECOG 2) debe considerarse una contraindicación para el uso de pautas combinadas de QT y RT. La pérdida de peso, las concentraciones séricas elevadas de antígeno carcinoembrionario y una cifra de hemoglobina igual o inferior a 12 g/dl conllevan peor pronóstico.

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