Pilot Study of Human Recombinant Interferon Gamma and Accelerated Hyperfractionated Thoracic Radiation Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Stage IIIA/B Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer.
Publication/Presentation Date
2-15-1995
Abstract
PURPOSE: Gamma interferon has a wide range of properties, including the ability to sensitize solid tumor cells to the effects of ionizing radiation. The North Central Cancer Treatment Group has previously completed pilot studies of accelerated hyperfractionated thoracic radiation therapy (AHTRT) in patients with unresectable Stage IIIA/B nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This Phase I study was designed to assess the toxicity of concomitant gamma interferon and AHTRT in a similar patient population.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between December 1991 and May 1992, 18 patients with unresectable Stage IIIA/B NSCLC were treated with daily gamma interferon (0.2 mg subcutaneously) concomitant with AHTRT (60 Gy given in 1.5 Gy twice daily fractions). All patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 with weight loss < 5%. Eight patients had Stage IIIA and 10 had Stage IIIB disease.
RESULTS: Nine patients (50%) experienced severe, life-threatening, or fatal toxicities. Eight of the patients (44%) developed significant radiation pneumonitis, which was severe in six patients and fatal in two patients (11% treatment-related mortality). Two patients (11%) developed severe radiation esophagitis. With follow-up of 15-21 months, 2 patients are alive, and 16 have died. The median survival time and 1-year survival rate is 7.8 months and 38%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Gamma interferon appeared to sensitize normal lung tissue to the effects of radiation, as demonstrated by the high incidence of severe or fatal radiation pneumonitis. We do not recommend pursuing gamma interferon as a radiosensitizer in this setting.
Volume
31
Issue
4
First Page
827
Last Page
831
ISSN
0360-3016
Published In/Presented At
Shaw, E. G., Deming, R. L., Creagan, E. T., Nair, S., Su, J. Q., Levitt, R., & ... Mailliard, J. A. (1995). Pilot study of human recombinant interferon gamma and accelerated hyperfractionated thoracic radiation therapy in patients with unresectable stage IIIA/B nonsmall cell lung cancer. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 31(4), 827-831.
Disciplines
Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
7860395
LVHN link
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mnh&AN=7860395&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Peer Reviewed for front end display
Peer-Reviewed
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Hematology-Medical Oncology Division, Department of Medicine Faculty
Document Type
Article