I-125 Brachytherapy Combined With Chemotherapy Of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study was to evaluate effect of I-125 brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy on advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC in stages HI to IV were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 27) received I-125 brachytherapy combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy, and Group B (n = 27) received GP chemotherapy only. The results showed that the overall response rate and median progression-free survival time were 78% and 11.5 months in Group A, 41% and 8 months in Group B, respectively (P < 0.05). For Group A, the 1- and 2-years survival rates were 67% and 37%, respectively, with the median survival time of 16 months, whereas the corresponding data of Group B were 48%, 22% and 11.5 months (P > 0.05). The interventional complications in Group A included 5 patients with postoperative pneumothorax and 4 patients with hemoptysis. No patients had radiation pneumonia, radiation esophagitis or esophagotracheal fistula. Chemotherapy treatment-related toxicities were not significantly different between the two groups. The relief of tumor-associated symptoms including cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, and short breath was found in both groups, without statistical difference in remission rates between Groups A and B (P > 0.05). In conclusion, I-125 brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy proved to be safe and effective for treating advanced NSCLC with few complications. It improves local control rate and prolongs the progression-free survival time.