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Locally advanced unresectable tumors
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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Radiation therapy alone may provide benefit to patients with locally advanced unresectable stage IIIA NSCLC.
Radiation therapy with traditional dose and fractionation schedules (1.8–2.0 Gy per fraction per day to 60–70 Gy in 6–7 weeks) results in reproducible long-term survival benefit in 5% to 10% of patients and significant palliation of symptoms.[53]
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Evidence (radiation therapy for locally advanced unresectable tumor):
One prospective randomized clinical study showed the following:[54]
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One prospective randomized clinical study showed the following:[54]
Radiation therapy given continuously (including weekends) as three daily fractions (continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiation therapy) improved OS compared with radiation therapy given as one daily fraction.[54][Level of evidence A1]
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One prospective randomized clinical study showed the following:[54]
Patterns of failure for patients treated with radiation therapy alone included both locoregional and distant failures.
Although patients with unresectable stage IIIA disease may benefit from radiation therapy, long-term outcomes have generally been poor because of local and systemic relapse.
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice