Pilot Project of Adaptive Thoracic Radiotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

Pilot Project of Adaptive Thoracic Radiotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study is intended to assess the feasibility of adjusting a radiation plan during its course to accommodate for a shrinking tumor target. The investigators hypothesize that an adaptive radiotherapy (RT) planning strategy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with chest-confined disease will allow for safe delivery of higher doses of chest RT than a non-adaptive RT planning approach without subjecting normal critical structures to unacceptable doses of radiotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with histologically or cytologically proven newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer
• chest-confined disease (including bulky intrathoracic disease)
• adequate pulmonary function tests (FEV-1>1.0 L, DLCO>50%)
• patients of childbearing potential must practice adequate contraception
• Age > or = 18 years
• Karnofsky performance status > or = 70
• eligible for concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients who have undergone complete or subtotal tumour resection
• evidence of non-small cell histology
• prior or concurrent malignancy except non-melanomatous skin cancer unless disease-free for at least 5 years
• prior RT to the thorax or neck
• compromised lung function with inadequate pulmonary function tests (FEV-1<1.0,DLCO<50%)
• pregnant women