Lung Cancer

Study results from National Institute of Radiological Science in the area of pneumonia therapy published

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"Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CRT) is a promising modality because of its excellent dose localization and high biological effect on tumors. This study aims to analyze the relationship between dosimetric factors developed for XRT and the incidence of RP in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after CRT. We examined 80 inoperable patients with NSCLC. The ranges of the daily fraction sizes and the total doses were from 3.3 to 8.8 GyE and from 59.4 to 95.4 GyE, respectively. These doses were successfully delivered with acceptable toxicity; >or=grade 2 RP was observed in 8 patients (10%). The severity of RP was graded within 6 months of the initiation of CRT using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria. These results indicate the excellent dose distribution of CRT. We then compared the dosimetric data of the 8 patients developed >or=grade 2 RP with those of 72 patients developed <or=grade 1 RP. Dosimetric factors useful for predicting RP in XRT, such as the percentage of the computed tomography-defined total lung volume receiving >5, >20, and >30 GyE, and mean lung dose, were not predictive factors for RP after CRT. The dosimetric factors used for XRT are not applicable for CRT in patients with NSCLC," wrote M. Koto and colleagues, National Institute of Radiological Science.

The researchers concluded: "The dosimetric factors for CRT remain to be developed."

Koto and colleagues published their study in The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (Dosimetric factors used for thoracic X-ray radiotherapy are not predictive of the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis after carbon-ion radiotherapy. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2007;213(2):149-56).

For more information, contact M. Koto, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Research Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, Chiba, Japan.

Publisher contact information for the The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine is: Tohoku University Medical Press, School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-77, Japan.

Keywords: Japan, Chiba, Pneumonia Therapy, Experimental Medicine, Pneumonia, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.