Can low‐dose radiotherapy volumes be one of the contributing factors to early relapses in lung cancer patients?

Abstract

Abstract Objective Several studies have shown that low‐dose radiotherapy (RT) might increase tumor invasion and metastases. Whereas multiple RT fields that increase low‐dose RT areas are often used to prevent damage to organs at risk. We carried out a clinical trial with the concern that low‐dose RT sites could increase invasions or metastases when multiple sites were used. Methods A clinical retrospective study was carried out on 50 lung cancer patients with stage II–IIIB cancer, who underwent RT and/or chemotherapy, had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performances 1–3, were aged 45–87 years, and without metastases. RT was carried out for 5 days with 180–200 cGy fractions per day with a total dose of 54–66 Gy. The radiation dose volume areas V5, V10, V20, V40, V50, and V60 of lung were calculated and analyzed by Mann–Whitney U‐test and L par test on disease‐free and overall survival statistically. Results It was determined that V5, V10, and V20, which constitute the low RT dose areas of the lung, positively affected the recurrence‐free and overall survival minimally according to r correlation values. Conclusion Low‐dose RT volumes were positively affected minimally by recurrence‐free survival and overall survival in the present study. The effects of low‐dose radiation must be evaluated more clearly in studies.

Keywords

• antiangiogenic
• microenvironment
• V5
• V10
• V20