[Radiotherapy for stage III, inoperable, asymptomatic small cell lung cancer. Final results of a prospective randomized study (240 XXXX )].

@entity1 @entity7841 @entity1149 @entity5
PURPOSE: To report the results of a prospective randomized study concerning the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of stage III, unresectable, asymptomatic @entity1149 . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 1996, 240 @entity1 with stage III, unresectable, asymptomatic @entity1149 were enrolled in this study, and sequentially randomized to one of the three treatment arms: conventional @entity7841 , hypofractionated @entity7841 and control group. In the conventional @entity7841 arm (79 @entity1 ), a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions in five weeks was delivered to the @entity5 and the mediastinum. In the hypofractionated @entity7841 arm (81 @entity1 ), there were two courses of @entity7841 separated by an interval of four weeks. In each series, @entity1 received 20 Gy in five fractions in five days, in the same treatment volume as the conventional @entity7841 group. In the control group arm, 80 @entity1 initially did not receive radiotherapy and were only observed. Delayed @entity7841 (20-25 Gy in four to five fractions in four to five days) was given to the @entity5 when major symptoms developed. RESULTS: The two-year actuarial survival rates for @entity1 in the conventional @entity7841 , hypofractionated @entity7841 and control group arms were 18%, 6% and 0%, with a median survival time of 12 months, nine months and six months respectively. The differences between survival rates were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. CONCLUSION: Although @entity7841 provides good palliation, the results are disappointing. The comparison of conventional and hypofractionated @entity7841 shows an advantage for conventional schedules.
