Moderate chemo-radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: results in 21 patients with advanced disease and low...

Twenty-one patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and low performance status (Karnofsky: 40-60) were treated with moderate doses of chemo-radiotherapy. Seven patients (33%) had partial response and a median survival time of 10 months; 5 patients (24%) had stable disease and a median survival time of 5 months; 9 patients (43%) had progression of disease and a median survival time of 6 months. Median survival time for the whole group was 7 months. Toxicity related to treatment was minimal and posttreatment performance status was: stable in 10 patients and improved in 5 responsive patients. We conclude that this therapeutic strategy has some efficacy in this category of patients although it failed to show substantial benefit in terms of survival.