Systemic radiation and split-course radiotherapy for non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma

One hundred and thirty-eight patients with inoperable non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma, Stage III, have been treated with systemic radiation and radical radiotherapy by a split-course technique. Systemic radiation has been used as an adjuvant therapy to deal with micrometastases or subclinical disease. A historical comparison has been made with a similar group of patients treated radically by split-course radiotherapy alone. It is shown that the incidence of distant metastases has decreased and the disease-free survival rate has improved. There were 26% of patients who survived 4 years disease-free, as compared with 7% in the group where no systemic radiation therapy was given. In view of a higher incidence of brain metastases and radiation pneumonitis, the technique and dosage of systemic radiation therapy have been modified.