Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer

Letters1 January 1991Radiotherapy for Lung CancerLeonard R. Prosnitz, MDLeonard R. Prosnitz, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-1-95 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editors: The report by Johnson and colleagues (1) on the role of thoracic radiotherapy in carcinoma of the lung in a recent issue has a provocative title; I do not believe, however, that the data justify such an unqualified conclusion.The second sentence in the Discussion is the heart of the problem. The primary argument for using curative radiotherapy in unresectable lung cancer is indeed the prospect that occasional cures can be achieved. Long-term survivals from 5% to 7% have been reported in a number of retrospective series (2). If that is the hypothesis that we are testing...References1. JohnsonEinhornBartolucci DLA. Thoracic radiotherapy does not prolong survival in patients with locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113:33-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. MinnaPassGlatsteinIhde JHED. Cancer of the lung. In: DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott; 1989:591-705. Google Scholar3. Simon R. Design and conduct of clinical trials. In: DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott; 1989:396-420. Google Scholar4. . Effect of adjuvant tamoxifen and of cytotoxic therapy on mortality in early breast cancer: an overview of 61 randomized trials among 28,896 women. N Engl J Med. 1988;26:1681-92. Google Scholar1. Payne D. Non-small cell lung cancer: should unresectable stage III patients routinely receive high-dose radiation therapy? J Clin Oncol. 1988;6:552-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. CoxKomakiByhardt JRR. Is immediate chest radiotherapy obligatory for any or all patients with limited stage non-small cell carcinoma of the lung? Yes. Cancer Treat Rep. 1983;67:327-31. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. PerezStanleyRubin CKP. A prospective randomized study of various irradiation doses and fractionation schedules in the treatment of inoperable non-oat cell carcinoma of the lung. Preliminary report by the radiation therapy oncology group. Cancer. 1980;45: 2744-53. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. StamplemanKrisGralla LMR. Complete response in stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer with chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus surgery: an analysis of treatment in 554 patients [Abstract]. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1987;6:177. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByClinical stage II non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiation therapy alone:The significance of clinically staged ipsilateral hilar adenopathy (N1 disease) 1 January 1991Volume 114, Issue 1Page: 95-96KeywordsHeartLung and intrathoracic tumors Issue Published: 1 January 1991 PDF DownloadLoading ...