Induction Chemoradiotherapy (50 Gy), Followed by Resection, for Stage IIIA-N2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND

The optimal therapeutic strategy for potentially resectable clinical (c-) stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. This phase II multiinstitutional study (West Japan Oncology Group 5308L) was designed to evaluate the feasibility of induction chemotherapy with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy (50 Gy), followed by resection and postoperative consolidation chemotherapy, in IIIA-N2 NSCLC.

METHODS

Patients with resectable c-stage IIIA-N2 were eligible, and pathologic confirmation of N2 disease was mandatory. Patients received chemotherapy consisting of weekly carboplatin plus paclitaxel with concurrent radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions). Unless disease progression was documented, patients underwent surgical resection, and thereafter received two courses of consolidation chemotherapy with carboplatin plus paclitaxel. The primary end point was the proportion of patients who achieved complete resection after induction chemoradiotherapy (R0 rate).

RESULTS

From December 2011 to November 2013, 40 eligible patients were enrolled. All patients completed induction chemoradiotherapy with an overall response rate of 58%, and 32 patients achieved complete resection (R0 rate, 80%) mostly with lobectomy (n = 27). Twenty patients (50%) completed the study treatment, including postoperative chemotherapy. After the median follow-up period of 38 months, the progression-free survival, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival rates at 2 years were 63%, 75%, and 62%, respectively. The 30-day and 90-day mortality were 0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Induction chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy (50 Gy), followed by resection, was a feasible and promising treatment option for resectable c-stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC.