Evaluation of quality of life in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with combined radiochemotherapy

Background: The aim was to investigate the application of radiopotentiation which was initiated by the fact that in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer there is a high risk of relapse due to failure in local control of the disease and the risk of systemic micrometastases. The other aim was the evaluation of quality of life. Methods: A study group consisted of 67 patients. Patients were first treated with TD30 Gy in 10 fractions during 2 weeks (5 fractions per week) with a potentiation by 20 mg/m 2 of carboplatinol intravenous bolus infusion just prior to each radiotherapy fraction. After a 2-week pause, additional radiation of 25 Gy in 10 fractions was applied during 2 weeks (5 fractions/week) with a potentiation by 20 mg/m 2 of carboplatinol. Total tumor dose (TTD) was 55 Gy (30+25 Gy) in 20 fractions, total duration of the therapy was 6 weeks, and total dose of carboplatinol was 600 mg. A control group consisted of 70 patients and they were treated with a radical radiotherapy with a conventional fractionation (60 Gy in 30 fractions, 2 Gy per day, 5 fractions per week). Quality of life was evaluated by Karnofsky performance scale (KI), at the beginning of the treatment, after the completion of the whole course of treatment, and during follow-up at regular check-ups. Results After the completion of the whole course of treatment most of patients had KI 80%. Analysis made during the last check-up showed statistically significant low KI. In both study and control groups KI was significantly higher at the beginning of the treatment than KI after the completion of the whole course of treatment (p=0.001). However, the analysis of KI at the time of the completion of the whole course of treatment showed significantly better KI in study group (p=0.036) than in control group. Conclusion: These results showed that the combined radiochemotherapy treatment is well tolerated.