Effective Treatment for Inoperable Stage I Lung Cancer Using CyberKnife
Author Information
Author(s): Collins Brian T, Vahdat Saloomeh, Erickson Kelly, Collins Sean P, Suy Simeng, Yu Xia, Zhang Ying, Subramaniam Deepa, Reichner Cristina A, Sarikaya Ismet, Esposito Giuseppe, Yousefi Shadi, Jamis-Dow Carlos, Banovac Filip, Anderson Eric D
Primary Institution: Georgetown University Hospital
Hypothesis
Radical radiosurgery may be effective for inoperable patients with small peripheral clinical stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
Conclusion
Radical CyberKnife radiosurgery is a well-tolerated treatment option for inoperable patients with small, peripheral stage I NSCLC.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients completed treatment with few acute side effects and no procedure-related mortality.
- With a median follow-up of 25 months, the 2-year overall survival estimate was 87%.
- Transient chest wall discomfort developed in 8 of the 12 patients with lesions within 5 mm of the pleura.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special machine called CyberKnife to treat patients with small lung tumors that couldn't be removed by surgery, and it worked well without causing serious problems.
Methodology
Patients with inoperable small peripheral stage I NSCLC were treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery, using fiducial markers for tumor tracking and delivering doses of 42–60 Gy in 3 fractions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study being conducted by a single institution and the authors' affiliations with the CyberKnife system.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and relied on CT imaging, which may not accurately assess tumor response due to radiation fibrosis.
Participant Demographics
20 patients (5 men and 15 women) with an average age of 74 years, all heavy smokers, with varying degrees of pulmonary dysfunction.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.005
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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