Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Purpose: To compare the compliance, tumor response, quality of life and survival between a hypo-fractionated and a conventional fractionated RT schedule in locally advanced NSCLC patients. Materials and Methods: Total 50 patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were given 3 cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After 3-4 weeks of completion of 3rd cycle, 25 patients received a total 17Gy in 2 fr (8.5Gy/fr) on day 1 and day 8 in study arm, 25 patients received a total 50 Gy in 25 fr (2Gy/fr) administered daily (5days/week) for 5 weeks. Disease response was evaluated by RECIST criteria at 1, 3 and 6 month. Then follow up was done after 1yr, 2yr and 3yr to evaluate the overall survival. Result: none of patients in both arms had complete response at any follow up. Locoregional disease control was observed in 18% although among the patients followed, we found to concluded that for improvement of quality of life in locally advanced NSCLC patients with poor PS and short life span, the palliative hypo-fractionated regimen of short duration (17Gy/2fr) could be considered as a reasonable alternative and also economically feasible & required shorter duration of stay in the hospital. In conclusion, large number of patients with strict follow up need to be done to ascertain the need and benefits of this palliative TRT.
Dhaka et al. (Mon,) studied this question.