Acute esophagitis and late lung toxicity in concurrent chemoradiotherapy trials in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: analysis of the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) database.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed time course and factors associated with acute esophagitis (ES) and late lung toxicity (PN), as well as any association between ES and PN in patients (pts) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with concurrent chemoradiation (chemo-RT) on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multivariable analysis was used to investigate factors associated with ES or PN.

RESULTS: Patients (n = 528) received standard fractionated (SFX; 63 Gy) or hyperfractionated (HFX; 69.6 Gy) radiation therapy (RT) with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Grade > 2 ES developed in 75% of pts; Grade > 3 ES, in 34%. Nineteen percent of pts developed ES by the first, 32% by the second, and 33% by the third month (and for Grade > 3 PN, 9% by 6 months, 15% by year 1, and 18% by year 2). Any PN developed in 59% of pts; Grade > 2, in 39%; Grade > 3, in 18%; and lethal PN, in 2%. Grade > 2 PN was associated with increasing RT dose and Grade > 3 PN, with HFX RT. No association was seen with ES. Grade > 3 ES was less likely to occur in non-whites and more likely, in pts treated with HFX RT.

CONCLUSION: Most (95%) pts developed ES, and 33% had severe ES, peaking within the first or second month of RT. PN developed in 57% of pts, with 18% experiencing Grade > 3 PN, with most diagnosed by 1 year from RT. No relationship was observed between 1 toxicity (ES or PN) as predictor of the other. HFX RT was associated with more severe PN or ES.