Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Proves Effective for Inoperable Early Stage Lung Cancer

A recent phase 2 multicenter study of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage inoperable lung cancer resulted in an overall survival rate of 55.8 percent at three years, according to a study published March 17, 2010, in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The median overall survival was 48.1 months in a study of 55 patients age 18-years-old and older who had medical conditions that prevented surgically removing non-small cell lung tumors greater than 5 cm. Participants received 18 Gy per fraction times 3 fractions, 54 Gy total, over one and a half to two weeks, stated Robert Timmerman, M.D., et al, in “Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Inoperable Early Stage Lung Cancer.”

The primary endpoint was two-year actuarial primary tumor control, with disease-free survival, treatment-related toxicity and overall survival as secondary endpoints. Only one patient experienced a primary tumor failure; therefore the estimated primary tumor control rate was 97.6 percent.

Disseminated recurrence affected 11 patients, with a three-year rate of failure of 22.1 percent. The rate for disease-free survival at three years was 48.3 percent and overall survival was 55.8 percent.

“Despite the high potency of the treatment, fewer than 20 percent of these extremely frail patients experienced a serious health decline,” said Dr. Timmerman in a press release available at www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/580490. html. “We believe these findings justify SBRT as a standard of care treatment for lung cancer in patients with serious medical problems like emphysema, heart disease and strokes.”

He also noted that the findings support ongoing clinical studies of SBRT for patients who are healthier and able to undergo surgery.