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Chemoradiation therapy
Source: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 15, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Context: Treatment of Stage IIIA NSCLC / Treatment Options for Unresectable Stage IIIA NSCLC
The addition of sequential and concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy has been evaluated in prospective randomized trials and meta-analyses. Overall, concurrent treatment may provide the greatest benefit in survival with an increase in toxic effects.
Concomitant platinum-based radiation chemotherapy may improve survival of patients with locally advanced NSCLC. However, the available data are insufficient to accurately define the size of such a potential treatment benefit and the optimal schedule of chemotherapy.[34]
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Evidence (chemoradiation therapy):
A meta-analysis of patient data from 11 randomized clinical trials showed the following:[35]
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A meta-analysis of patient data from 11 randomized clinical trials showed the following:[35]
Cisplatin-based combinations plus radiation therapy resulted in a 10% reduction in the risk of death compared with radiation therapy alone.[35][Level of evidence A1]
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A meta-analysis of 13 trials (based on 2,214 evaluable patients) showed the following:[36]
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A meta-analysis of 13 trials (based on 2,214 evaluable patients) showed the following:[36]
The addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radical radiation therapy reduced the risk of death at 2 years (relative risk [RR], 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88–0.98; P = .01).
A meta-analysis of 13 trials (based on 2,214 evaluable patients) showed the following:[36]
For the 11 trials with platinum-based chemotherapy, RR was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87–0.99; P = .02).[36]
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A meta-analysis of individual data from 1,764 patients was based on nine trials and showed the following:[34]
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A meta-analysis of individual data from 1,764 patients was based on nine trials and showed the following:[34]
The HRdeath among patients treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy compared with radiation therapy alone was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81–0.98; P = .02), corresponding to an absolute benefit of chemotherapy of 4% at 2 years.
A meta-analysis of individual data from 1,764 patients was based on nine trials and showed the following:[34]
The combination of platinum with etoposide appeared to be more effective than platinum alone.
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice