Concurrent vs. sequential chemoradiotherapy: a survival boost for lung cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy, incidence of radiation pneumonitis, and impact on lung function of sequential chemoradiotherapy (SCRT) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in the treatment of lung cancer. Method From January 2020 to December 2022, 158 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were admitted to our hospital and chosen as the study subjects. Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively and organized into a control group (n = 78, received SCRT) and an observation group (n = 80, received CCRT). Lesion sizes measured through CT scans were used to compare the clinical efficacy between the two groups. The study also compared the rates of adverse reactions, radiation pneumonitis, and lung function pre- and post-treatment, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio. The comparison of serum tumor marker levels was conducted between two groups, with patients being observed over a 36-month period. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyze the changes in overall survival rate (OSR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) between two groups of patients. Results For the observation group, the remission rate was 90.00%, and for the control group, it was 74.36%. The control rates were 96.25% for the observation group and 89.74% for the control group. Significantly higher remission and control rates were observed in the observation group than in the control group (P 0.05). Furthermore, PFS and OS levels were elevated in the observation group relative to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion CCRT could optimize the treatment effect for NSCLC patients by improving lung function, reducing serum tumor marker levels, and prolonging survival without increasing toxicity. Nonetheless, the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis was somewhat above expectations, and the treatment plan should be tailored to the patient's specific circumstances in clinical practice.

Keywords

• Sequential chemoradiotherapy
• Concurrent chemoradiotherapy
• Lung cancer
• Clinical efficacy
• Pulmonary function