Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated in Southeast Wales

Lester, J.F.; Hudson, E.; Flubacher, M.; Macbeth, F.; Baker, J.; Wade, R.; Morrey, D.; Hanna, L.; Brewster, A.; Linnane, S.J.

doi:10.1016/j.clon.2006.03.016

« Previous Next »Clinical Oncology
Volume 18, Issue 5 , Pages 378-382, June 2006

Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated in Southeast Wales

Received 16 October 2005; received in revised form 6 February 2006; accepted 19 March 2006.

Abstract

Aims

In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), consolidation thoracic irradiation (CTI) increases 3-year absolute survival by 5.4% in patients with limited disease and a complete response to chemotherapy. Early concurrent thoracic radiotherapy has been shown to improve local control and prolong survival compared with CTI in some trials. The standard management of patients with SCLC in southeast Wales is CTI in individuals with limited disease and a complete response to chemotherapy. A review of patients with SCLC was carried out to establish whether survival locally is comparable with that reported in published studies, and if patients given CTI have survival comparable with that reported in studies where early concurrent thoracic radiotherapy was used.

Materials and methods

Between January 2000 and December 2002, 303 patients were registered with SCLC in southeast Wales. One hundred and fifteen (47%) patients had limited disease and 60/115 (52%) received CTI.

Results

Patients with limited disease receiving CTI had a median survival of 17.7 months (95% confidence interval: 15–27.9 months). The 2- and 5-year survivals were 38 and 13%, respectively.

Conclusions

These results compare favourably with previously published studies on SCLC. There are no plans to change our current treatment policy for SCLC in southeast Wales.

Key words: Limited disease, small cell lung cancer, thoracic radiotherapy