Radical hypofractionated radiotherapy for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer using 52·5–55 Gy in 20 fractions: the North Wales Cancer Centre experience

BackgroundRadical hypofractionated thoracic radiotherapy is the most commonly used radiotherapy schedule for inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United Kingdom, despite a lack of level I evidence to support its use.PurposeTo supplement existing published retrospective data with a mature data series and provide further evidence to support the use of this schedule in routine clinical practice.Materials and methodsRetrospective analysis of all inoperable NSCLC cases treated with radical hypofractionated radiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy in the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre between 2001 and 2011.ResultsOf the 222 patients, 209 (94%) received 55 Gy in 20 fractions (#) and 13 (6%) received 52·5 Gy in 20#. Induction chemotherapy was administered in 121 (55%) cases. The median survival of 28·6 months (95% confidence interval 24·2–32·5) is comparable with previously published survival outcomes for this patient group.ConclusionThe growing body of evidence for this schedule, confirming survival outcomes comparable with internationally accepted results, is sufficient to support its future use in inoperable NSCLC.