Combined modality treatment using concurrent radiotherapy and pharmacologically-guided carboplatin for inoperable and incompletely resected non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: In our previous randomised trial, radiotherapy (RT) was given concurrently with carboplatin 350 mg/m2. We wanted to show that the safety and efficacy of the drug could be improved by pharmacologically-guided dosing based on renal function. Patients and methods: Patients were eligible if they had unresectable or incompletely resected NSCLC, good performance status (ECOG 0-2), weight loss <10%, no distant metastases and adequate haematology and biochemistry. Radiotherapy was given to the primary site and regional lymph nodes to a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. Two cycles of carboplatin were given in divided doses of 1-h infusions daily for 5 days before RT weeks ..