Results of the Dutch National study of the palliative effect of irradiation using two different treatment schemes for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: A national multicenter randomized study compared the efficacy of 2 x 8 Gy versus our standard 10 x 3 Gy in patients with inoperable stage IIIA/B (with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 3 to 4 and/or substantial weight loss) and stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1999 and June 2002, 297 patients were eligible and randomized to receive either 10 x 3 Gy or 2 x 8 Gy by external-beam irradiation. The primary end point was a patient-assessed score of treatment effect on seven thoracic symptoms using an adapted Rotterdam Symptom Checklist.