Integration of Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

摘要: Lung cancer currently afflicts about 180 000 persons per year in the United States and, with present treatments, will be fatal to 85% of them (PARKER et al. 1997). Small cell lung (SCLC) makes up 25% these patients, whom 20%–30% are staged as having “limited” disease at presentation. With infrequent exception patients found following excision an undiagnosed pulmonary nodule have AJCC stage group I or II SCLC, vast majority limited SCLC (L-SCLC) III presentation (SHEPHERD 1993). It has been quite clear for several decades, learned from rapid systemic progression treated only loco-regional therapies, that this system refers bulk rather than its anatomic extent. Thus L-SCLC is rightly seen a two components, detectable one chest (lung and mediastinum) but not yet visible elsewhere. (This model ignores moment question “sanctuary” sites such CNS.)