Published in

MDPI, Cancers, 12(13), p. 2895, 2021

DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122895

Elsevier, International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics, 3(111), p. e469-e470, 2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.1310

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

A Comparison of Hypofractionated and Twice Daily Thoracic Irradiation in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Overlap Weighted Analysis

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Despite evidence for the superiority of twice-daily (BID) radiotherapy schedules, their utilization in practice remains logistically challenging. Hypofractionation (HFRT) is a commonly implemented alternative. We aim to compare the outcomes and toxicities in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients treated with hypofractionated versus BID schedules. A bi-institutional retrospective cohort review was conducted of LS-SCLC patients treated with BID (45 Gy/30 fractions) or HFRT (40 Gy/15 fractions) schedules from 2007 to 2019. Overlap weighting using propensity scores was performed to balance observed covariates between the two radiotherapy schedule groups. Effect estimates of radiotherapy schedule on overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence (LRR) risk, thoracic response, any ≥grade 3 (including lung, and esophageal) toxicity were determined using multivariable regression modelling. A total of 173 patients were included in the overlap-weighted analysis, with 110 patients having received BID treatment, and 63 treated by HFRT. The median follow-up was 20.4 months. Multivariable regression modelling did not reveal any significant differences in OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.67, p = 0.38), LRR risk (HR 1.48, p = 0.38), thoracic response (odds ratio [OR] 0.23, p = 0.21), any ≥grade 3+ toxicity (OR 1.67, p = 0.33), ≥grade 3 pneumonitis (OR 1.14, p = 0.84), or ≥grade 3 esophagitis (OR 1.41, p = 0.62). HFRT, in comparison to BID radiotherapy schedules, does not appear to result in significantly different survival, locoregional control, or toxicity outcomes.