[Adaptive radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer]

Anatomical changes and tumor regression during thoracic radiotherapy may alter the treatment volumes. These modifications are not taken into account into set-up or motion margins used for treatment planning. Their dosimetric impact could be significant and a better understanding of the changes occurring during the 6 to 7 weeks of treatment could be useful in order to define quantitative thresholds before a new treatment planning is needed. Margins could also be reduced in order to better spare organs at risk and perform targeted dose escalation. This review assesses the potential of morphologic and metabolic imaging during treatment for adaptive radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.