| It disucss about chemotherapy plus radiotherapy | | | | 32-78) to Group 2. The authors noted that the end |
| playing a role in SCLC Dr Kathy Albain, Loyola | | | | result was overall survival. |
| University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Cardinal | | | | According the scientist finding that the number of |
| Bernardin Cancer Center, Maywood, IL, USA, and | | | | patients survive at five years was 37 in Group One |
| colleagues.Dr Kathy published an online first article | | | | and 24 in Group Two. Progression free survival |
| discussed about radiotherapy plus chemotherapy, | | | | seemed better in Group One than in Group Two, |
| with or without surgery, are both treatment options | | | | median 12.8 months versus 10.5 months; the number |
| for patients with stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung | | | | of patients without disease progression at five years |
| cancer (NSCLC) where in an upcoming edition of The | | | | was 32 (Group One) versus 13 (Group Two). |
| Lancet and published in 16, July. | | | | Based on the scientist comment that esophagitis and |
| NSCL make up about 80% of lung cancers, | | | | lower white blood cell counts were the main grade |
| it’s due to most common long-term exposure | | | | three or four toxicities associated with radiotherapy |
| to tobacco smoke. Based on an authors comment. | | | | plus chemotherapy in Group One (38 percent and |
| Where lung cancer treatment front-line surgery | | | | 10 percent, respectively) and Group Two (41 percent |
| can’t effectively cure the disease because it | | | | and 23 percent, respectively). In Group One, 8 |
| has already spread to lymph nodes in the centre of | | | | percent deaths were treatment related versus 2 |
| the chest (N2). the authors compared concurrent | | | | percent Group Two. In an exploratory analysis, |
| chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by surgery | | | | overall survival was getting a positive result for |
| with standard concurrent chemotherapy and | | | | patients who underwent lobectomy, |
| radiotherapy without surgery, the current standard | | | | chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. |
| for this group patients | | | | "Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy with or without |
| The scientist randomly assigned patients with stage | | | | resection (preferably lobectomy) are options for |
| IIIA (N2) NSCLC to concurrent induction | | | | patients with stage IIIA (N2) non-small-cell lung |
| chemotherapy (two cycles of cisplatin [50 mg/m² | | | | cancer... medically healthy patients with stage IIIA |
| on days 1, 8, 29, and 36] and etoposide [50 mg/m² | | | | (N2) non-small-cell lung cancer should be assessed by |
| on days 1-5 and 29-33]) plus radiotherapy (45 Gy) in | | | | a team skilled in multimodality treatment, and |
| multiple academic and community hospitals. | | | | treatment options can be considered during |
| The scientist found no progression, patients in group | | | | assessment," the authors wrote. "On the basis of the |
| 1 underwent surgery and those in group 2 continued | | | | findings of our study, patients should be counseled |
| radiotherapy uninterrupted up to 61 Gy. Two | | | | about the risks and potential benefits of definitive |
| additional cycles of cisplatin and etoposide were given | | | | chemotherapy plus radiotherapy with and without a |
| in both groups. | | | | surgical resection (preferably by lobectomy)." |
| Among 202 patients (median age 59 years, range | | | | Source: The Lancet, Medical News. |
| 31-77) were assigned to Group 1 and 194 (61 years, | | | | |