Radiotherapy, chemotherapy reduce recurrence of small cell lung cancer

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The use of involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) and irradiating post-chemotherapy residual primary tumor volume for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) did not result in increased recurrence of the cancer.

The recent study was presented by Xiao Hu, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Thoracic Radiotherapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s (IASLC’s) 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Toronto, Canada.

“Considering the high malignancy and easy metastasis of SCLC, chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of comprehensive treatment,” said Dr. Hu.

However, patients having difficulty with full-dose intravenous chemotherapy could be administered safely by dose reduction or using single agent chemotherapy or oral chemotherapy, along with radiotherapy, a statement said.

Also highlighted during the conference is on the impact of this year’s practice-changing abstracts, emphasizing that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world and in men and women.

The final press briefing at the IASLC’s 19th WCLC led by conference co-presidents Natasha B. Leighl, M.D., BSc, MSc, and Gail Darling M.D., FRCSC,  reviewed the innovative work in lung cancer research and treatment presented at the conference.

Dr. Leighl closed the press briefing with a preview of the closing plenary and said: “The goal of this plenary is to help us take the great progress at this meeting—take it home, take action and really put this into practice.”

More details available at www.iaslc.org and https://wclc2018.iaslc.org.

-- BERNAMA