Clinical and dosimetric predictors of radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing postoperative radiation therapy Journal Article


Authors: Shepherd, A. F.; Iocolano, M.; Leeman, J.; Imber, B. S.; Wild, A. T.; Offin, M.; Chaft, J. E.; Huang, J.; Rimner, A.; Wu, A. J.; Gelblum, D. Y.; Shaverdian, N.; Simone, C. B. 2nd; Gomez, D. R.; Yorke, E. D.; Jackson, A.
Article Title: Clinical and dosimetric predictors of radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing postoperative radiation therapy
Abstract: Purpose: Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is a common and potentially life-threatening toxicity from lung cancer radiation therapy. Data sets reporting RP rates after postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) have historically been small and with predominantly outdated field designs and radiation techniques. We examined a large cohort of patients in this context to assess the incidence and causes of RP in the modern era. Methods and Materials: We reviewed 285 patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with PORT at our institution from May 2004 to January 2017. Complete dosimetric data and clinical records were reviewed and analyzed with grade 2 or higher RP as the endpoint (RP2+) (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0). Patients were a median of 67 years old (range, 28-87), and most had pathologic stage III non-small cell lung cancer (91%) and received trimodality therapy (90%). Systematic dosimetric analyses using Dx increments of 5% and Vx increments of 2 Gy were performed to robustly evaluate dosimetric variables. Lung V5 was also evaluated. Results: The incidence of RP2+ after PORT was 12.6%. Dosimetric factors most associated with RP2+ were total lungV4 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, P <.001) and heart V16 (HR 1.03, P =.001). On univariate analysis, the clinical factors of age (HR 1.05, P =.006) and carboplatin chemotherapy (HR 2.32, P =.012) were correlated with RP2+. On step-up multivariate analysis, only bivariate models remained significant, including lungV5 (HR 1.037, P <.001) and age (HR 1.052, P =.011). Conclusions: The incidence of RP after PORT is consistent with the literature. Factors correlated with RP include lung and heart doses, age, and carboplatin chemotherapy. These data also suggest that elderly patients may be more susceptible to lower doses of radiation to the lung. Based on these data, dose constraints to limit the risk of RP2+ to <5% in the setting of PORT include lungV5 ≤65% in patients <65 years old and lungV5 ≤36% in patients 65 years or older. © 2020 American Society for Radiation Oncology
Keywords: adult; cancer chemotherapy; aged; major clinical study; paclitaxel; cancer radiotherapy; postoperative care; cancer staging; disease association; carboplatin; incidence; cohort analysis; medical record review; risk factor; docetaxel; disease severity; dosimetry; predictor variable; aging; disease predisposition; pemetrexed; radiation pneumonia; non small cell lung cancer; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Practical Radiation Oncology
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1879-8519
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2021-01-01
Start Page: e52
End Page: e62
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2020.09.014
PUBMED: 33068790
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7785592
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 February 2021 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Daphna Y Gelblum
    227 Gelblum
  2. Daniel R Gomez
    237 Gomez
  3. James Huang
    214 Huang
  4. Jamie Erin Chaft
    289 Chaft
  5. Andreas Rimner
    524 Rimner
  6. Abraham Jing-Ching Wu
    400 Wu
  7. Andrew Jackson
    253 Jackson
  8. Ellen D Yorke
    450 Yorke
  9. Brandon Stuart Imber
    214 Imber
  10. Michael David Offin
    170 Offin
  11. Annemarie Fernandes Shepherd
    103 Shepherd
  12. Charles Brian Simone
    190 Simone