Phase II randomized trial of radiotherapy alone vs the sequential use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Phase II trial of chemotherapy alone in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract In order to clarify if the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy offered any advantage over radiotherapy alone in stage III non-small cell lung cancer, 33 patients were randomized between radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, then chemotherapy again. Chemotherapy consisted of a combination of cis platinum, VP-16 and adriamycin. Twenty-four patients with stage IV disease received the same chemotherapy regimen alone for six cycles. Median survival for stage III patients receiving radiotherapy alone was 5 months . For patients receiving the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy median survival was 11 months (log-rank test, P = 0.025). Median survival for stage IV patient receiving chemotherapy alone was 15 months . It is concluded that the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is significantly superior to radiotherapy alone in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer.