Curative effects, prognostic factors, and adverse reactions of different treatment modalities of chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective To explore the curative effects,prognostic factors,and adverse reactions of different treatment modalities of chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods151 NSCLC patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups to undergo concurrent chemoradiotherapy ( n = 43 ) ,sequential chemo-radiotherapy ( n = 49 ) ,or pure chemotherapy (n = 59).The clinical data were analyzed.ResultsThe short-term effective rates of the concurrent and sequential chemo-radiotherapy groups were 81.4% and 73.5% respectively with no significantly difference between them,but both significantly higher than that of the pure chemotherapy group ( 39.0% ,both P ＜ 0.05 ).The mortality of the concurrent cherno-radiation group was 53.5% ,significantly lower than those of the sequential chemo-radiotherapy and pure chemotherapy groups (67.3% and 67.8% respectively,both P ＜0.05).The median survival time of the concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group was 26 months,significantly longer than those of the sequential chemo-radiotherapy and pure chemotherapy groups ( 12 and 11 months respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).The l-year survival rates of the 3 groups were 80.2% ,47.1%,and 45.6%.The 2-year survival rates were 58.2% ,38.5% ,and 24.4% ,and the 3-year survival rates were 32.7% ,27.5% ,and 0,respectively.The white blood cell decrease rates of the grades Ⅲ～Ⅳ of the concurrent chemo-radiotherapy group were significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups (both P ＜0.05 ).There were no significant differences in the rates of radiation esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis between the concurrent and sequential chemo-radiotherapy groups.Age,performance status score,clinical staging,and treatment modality were the 4 influencing factors in the prognosis of NSCLC ( all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Relatively safe with tolerable adverse reactions,concurrent chemo-radiotherapy is superior to sequential chemo-radiotherapy,particularly to pure chemotherapy,in increase of median survival time and survival rate in treatment of NSCLC.Age,PS,clinical staging and therapy method are independent indicators influencing the prognosis. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer;  Radiotherapy;  Chemotherapy;  Treatment efficacy; Toxicity