Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in elderly with early stage non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:To investigated the effectiveness of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) alone in elderly patients with early stage(I/II)non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:Between 2002 and 2007,a total of 35 elderly with early stage NSCLC patients were treated by 3DCRT.Radiotherapy doses ranged 6680 Gy(median,70 Gy) using standard fractionation(2.0 Gy per fraction).The age range was 71-89 years(median 76 years) 12 patients ≥80 years old.There were 13(37.1%) stage I and 22(62.9%) stage II patients.Results:Radiographic objective response rate was observed in 23(65.7%) patients.The median survival time was 38.9 months and 3-year survival time was 28%,while the median cancer-related survival time was 43.5 months and a 3-year cancer-related survival rate was 39%.One(2.9%) patient died of RT-induced late lung toxicity,no other high-grade toxicity was observed during this study.Conclusion: 3D-CRT alone was effective and low toxic in elderly with early stage(I/II) NSCLC.