Use of daily low-dose carboplatin in radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

The feasibility of using low-dose carboplatin (CBDCA) as a radiopotentiator in radiotherapy(RT) for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients with unfavorable factors was studied. Fifteen patients with locally advanced and inoperable NSCLC were treated with RT in combination with daily 20 mg/m2 CBDCA. Twelve patients completed the treatment as planned. Thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia(WHO Grade > or = 3) were observed in 1 and 2 patients, respectively. A complete and a partial response were obtained in 1(6.7%) and 9(60%) patients, respectively. The median survival time was 11 months. Calvert's formula has been used for carboplatin dosing and creatinine clearance applies in place of glomerular filtration rate in the formula. In this schedule, there was no correlation between pretreatment creatinine clearance and the nadir of platelet count(p = 0.9016). The combined use of daily low-dose CBDCA to RT was feasible for NSCLC patients with unfavorable factors.