The Optimal Treatment Modality in Patients with T4N2M0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Best Choice May Be Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy

摘要

Background: Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) consists of T4N2M0 and TXN3M0 NSCLC. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment strategies on the survival of patients with radiologically confirmed T4N2M0 NSCLC. Methods: A total of 145 patients were evaluated in three groups according to the treatment protocol: induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (induction group); chemoradiotherapy (CRT group), and chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy (consolidation group). The groups were compared regarding survival. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.9, 10.8 and 17.1 months for the induction, CRT and consolidation groups, respectively (p = 0.021). The median overall survival (OS) was 17.6, 13.8 and 25.2 months for the induction, CRT and consolidation groups, respectively (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The patients with T4N2M0 NSCLC who were treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy had the best outcome in terms of PFS and OS. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel