Definitive fractionated re-irradiation for local recurrence following stereotactic body radiotherapy for primary lung cancer

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of definitive fractionated re-irradiation for local recurrence following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for primary lung cancer.

Patients and methods: Between April 2003 and December 2011, 398 patients with primary lung tumor underwent SBRT at the Kyushu University Hospital, and 46 out of these developed local recurrence after SBRT. Definitive fractionated re-irradiation was performed for 17 out of the 46 patients. The median dose of re-irradiation was 60 Gy/ 30 fractions. Concurrent chemotherapy was given to four patients.

Results: The median follow-up duration was 12.6 months. At one year post-re-irradiation, local progression-free survival was 33.8%; progression-free survival, 30.9%; cause-specific survival, 79.3%; and overall survival, 74.7%. No severe adverse events were observed during the follow-up.

Conclusion: Definitive fractionated re-irradiation is thought to be a safe alternative therapy for local recurrence following SBRT, although its efficacy may be not entirely satisfactory.