NCT00057746

Brain Irradiation in Treating Patients With Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Official Title:

A Phase II Randomized Trial Of Two Dose Schedules For Delivering Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation For Patients With Limited Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer

Summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. It is not yet known which radiation therapy regimen is more effective in preventing brain metastases in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer while taking into account chronic neurotoxicity from radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial compares the incidence of chronic neurotoxicity between three different brain irradiation regimens. The corresponding phase III component addressing the prevention of brain metastases was run by EORTC and reported separately (NCT00005062).

Eligibility

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer by fine needle aspiration, biopsy, or 2 positive sputa

* Limited stage (I-IIIB)

* Confined to 1 hemithorax
* No T4 based on malignant pleural effusion, or N3 disease based on contralateral hilar or contralateral supraclavicular involvement
* Complete response after induction chemotherapy (with or without thoracic radiotherapy)
* Consolidative chest radiotherapy may be initiated before study
* No radiographic evidence of any of the following:

* Brain metastases

* Normal brain CT scan or MRI less than 1 month before study
* Ipsilateral lung metastases
* Malignant pleural effusion

* Minimal pleural effusion by chest CT scan allowed, but not by chest x-ray

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* Not specified

Performance status

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 75,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL\^

Hepatic

* Not specified

Renal

* Not specified

Pulmonary

* See Disease Characteristics

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Neurological function class 1 or 2
* No epilepsy requiring permanent oral medication
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No other serious medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 1 week since prior chemotherapy
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior external beam radiotherapy to the head or neck, including stereotactic radiotherapy
* Concurrent thoracic radiotherapy allowed

Surgery

* Not specified

Other

* No concurrent antitumor agents

Disease(s) and\or Condition(s)

Lung Cancer

Primary Purpose
  • TREATMENT
Intervention/Treatment
    • Type: RADIATION
    • Name: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 2.5 Gy fx
    • Description: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 2.5 Gy once daily, M-F, in 10 fractions (fx) for a total of 25 Gy
    • Arm Group Labels: Arm I
    • Type: RADIATION
    • Name: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 2.0 Gy fx
    • Description: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 2.0 Gy once daily, M-F, in 18 fractions (fx) for a total of 36 Gy
    • Arm Group Labels: Arm II
    • Type: RADIATION
    • Name: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 1.5 Gy fx
    • Description: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, 1.5 Gy twice daily, M-F, in 24 fractions (fx) for a total dose of 36 Gy
    • Arm Group Labels: Arm III
Sponsor
  • Radiation Therapy Oncology Group