Hypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for cT1-2N0M0 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of proton beam therapy (PBT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2002 and 2017, 110 patients receiving hypofractionated PBT for cT1-2N0M0 NSCLC were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients, 17 were diagnosed with ILD. The median follow-up period was 37.8 months. No significant difference in the 1-year cumulative rate of grade ≥2 pneumonitis was observed between patients with and those without ILD (17.6% vs. 14.1%, p=0.708). The lung doses were significantly lower in patients with than in those without ILD among patients without grade ≥2 pneumonitis. There were no significant differences in overall survival or local recurrence-free rates according to the presence of ILD. CONCLUSION: PBT appears to be a feasible and effective treatment for cT1-2N0M0 NSCLC in patients with ILD, but the lung dose should be strictly reduced.