Comparison of split-course radiation therapy and continuous radiation therapy for unresectable bronchogenic carcinoma: 5 year results

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Am. J. Roentgenol., Radium Ther. Nucl. Med., v. 126, no. 1, pp. 116- 122

OSTI ID:4022403

Lee, R E; Carr, D T; Childs, Jr, D S

One hundred and eighty-eight patients with inoperable or unresectable bronchogenic carcinoma were stratified by cell type, TNM staging, and prior surgery and then randomized into two treatment groups: continuous radiation therapy and split-course radiation therapy. There was no difference in clinical or objective improvement in the two groups. Survival rates for cases of squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma were the same after both regimens of therapy. Split-course therapy resulted in a significantly better survival rate in cases of large cell carcinoma but the number of cases was small. We doubt that the difference is clinically significant. Objective roentgenographic response was accompanied by improved survival in squamous cell carcinoma, but not in the other three cell types. Split-course radiation therapy is superior to continuous radiation therapy because it is better tolerated by the patient and because re-examination of the patient prior to the second half of split-course therapy permits the detection of new metastatic disease that has become manifest during the rest period and spares the patient the futile second half of radiation therapy. (auth)

• Research Organization: Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MI
• NSA Number: NSA-33-026222
• OSTI ID: 4022403
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. J. Roentgenol., Radium Ther. Nucl. Med., v. 126, no. 1, pp. 116- 122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*LUNGS-- BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*PNEUMONITIS-- RADIOINDUCTION
*RADIOTHERAPY-- SIDE EFFECTS
560151* --Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies--Radiation Effects--Radiation Effects on Animals--Man
CARCINOMAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION PROCEDURES
N48510* --Life Sciences--Radiation Effects on Animals--Man
PATIENTS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES