An analysis of the cumulative survival curve of unresectable non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) in stage I-III after radiotherapy

The standard therapy for an unresectable, limited non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) now combines radiotherapy with chemotherapy, because its local and distant control is vital to improve the treatment results. Thus, in order to find the optimal combination between radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the cumulative survival curve of 155 previously untreated NSCLC patients in stages I-III has been analyzed by classifying them into 4 subgroups. The selection of suitable patients before radical treatment and the combined use of effective chemotherapy are important to improve the local control rate was found to be strongly related to the improvement in the long-term survival rate. (author)