For treating locoregionally advanced, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, researchers investigated numerous approaches of combined modality therapy. The approaches were inclusive of induction chemotherapy, concomitant chemoradiotherapy, and intensified radiation therapy schedules. The researchers validated induction chemotherapy in randomized prospective trials against radiotherapy alone. When combination chemotherapy regimens were utilized in the phase II settings, concomitant chemoradiotherapy exhibited encouraging outcomes. Additionally, indirect comparison, concomitant chemoradiotherapy demonstrated superiority over induction chemotherapy. Last but not least, accelerated radiotherapy depicted improvements in locoregional control and survival in a randomized study. On the basis of these observations mentioned above, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB study 9431) explored the possibility of adding either vinorelbine, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine to cisplatin. For a study, researchers enlisted 187 patients, with locally advanced and inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. These patients got two cycles of induction chemotherapy with an extra two cycles of concomitant chemoradiotherapy. It utilized the same agents accompanied by a total dosage of 66 Gy. A preliminary analysis demonstrated that the median survival time for every patient in the trial was 17 months. With respect to other studies conducted by Cancer and Leukemia Group B, the data from the trial mentioned above were promising. As such, the regimens utilized in the trials would require additional research.
Link:theoncologist.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1634/theoncologist.6-suppl_1-25
