Evolution of modern-era radiotherapy strategies for unresectable advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

In patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, the current standard of care is chemoradiotherapy, which offers better outcomes than sequential treatments. Conventional radiotherapy (60–66 Gy) is associated with poor local control and dismal survival. The challenge is to escalate and/or accelerate the radiation dose safely and effectively. Cutting-edge technologies, such as 4D image-based motion management, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, proton therapy and image-guided radiotherapy, have enabled the delivery of higher doses of radiation to the difficult-to-treat moving tumors with lower toxicity risks. Incorporating the motion in 4D planning, such as an average internal target volume, would enable radiation oncologists to integrate the interfractional anatomic changes in the course of treatment for proper estimation of the actual dose delivery. Optimizing the combination of systemic therapy with radiotherapy, using a personalized approach based on using cutting-edge technologies for knowledge-guided dose escalation/acceleration radiotherapy, are crucial to improving the therapeutic ratio of non-small-cell lung cancer.