Abstract
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and biggest cause of cancer mortality worldwide with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for most cases. Radiotherapy (RT) plays a key role in its management and is used at least once in over half of patients in both curative and palliative treatments. This narrative review will demonstrate how the evolution of RT for NSCLC has been underpinned by improvements in RT technology. These improvements have facilitated geometric individualization, increasingly accurate treatment and now offer the ability to deliver truly individualized RT. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent developments in the field of advanced RT in early stage, locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC. We highlight limitations in current approaches and discuss future potential treatment strategies for patients with NSCLC.
Highlights
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the biggest cause of cancer mortality worldwide, accounting for 1.6 million deaths per year.[1]
Even more conformal treatment has become possible with the advent of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in which the RT beam fluence, weight and shape are varied for multiple beams during treatment.[4]
Whilst approaches to systemic therapy have become increasingly personalized according to tumour histology and molecular status,[8] curative RT is still prescribed mainly according to the TNM stage, performance status and comorbidities, taking no account of the tumour biology. This narrative review will demonstrate how the evolution of RT for Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been underpinned by improvements in RT technology
Summary
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the biggest cause of cancer mortality worldwide, accounting for 1.6 million deaths per year.[1]. Treatment for NSCLC depends mostly on the stage of disease and patient fitness. Radiotherapy (RT) is used in all stages of lung cancer treatment and is required at least once in over half of patients for either cure or palliation.[2]. RT for lung cancer was planned in a simulator using parallel opposed fields and anatomical landmarks to define the target.[3] The introduction of three-dimensional (3D) conformal RT using CT planning in the 1990s allowed improved tumour coverage and reduction in dose to organs at risk (OARs). Even more conformal treatment has become possible with the advent of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in which the RT beam fluence, weight and shape are varied for multiple beams during treatment.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
