Chemoradiation therapy for stage III lung cancer

Radiation and chemotherapy are commonly used treatment options for many types of cancer, including lung cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells by stopping or slowing their growth, while radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA. Each treatment may be used by itself, but they can also be used in combination with one another. Using the two treatments together is called chemoradiation or chemoradiotherapy and is a recommended treatment option for stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Here is a brief explanation of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and how these two treatments are used in combination with one another.

Chemotherapy

Sometimes abbreviated as “chemo,” chemotherapy is usually a systemic treatment, meaning it treats cancer throughout the body, instead of focusing on a specific tumor in a specific location. This makes it a good choice for first-line therapy for cancers that have spread beyond the initial site, or cancers that are in multiple locations throughout the body.

There are many types of chemotherapy drugs, which work in a variety of ways to destroy cancer cells and stop cancer cells from growing and spreading. Most chemotherapy drugs are administered with an intravenous (IV) infusion. Some are taken by mouth as a pill or a liquid. The choice of what chemotherapy drug to use depends on a number of factors related to both the cancer and the person. Oftentimes, a person will take a combination of chemotherapy drugs when treating non-small cell lung cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses X-rays, gamma rays, or charged particles to destroy cancer cells. There are three methods of delivering radiation therapy:

External beam radiation therapy

This delivers radiation from a machine outside the body. Imaging scans are used to create a three-dimensional, detailed map of the body’s interior and the tumor’s location. This will be used to precisely target the tumor with radiation and minimize the damage to nearby healthy tissues.

Internal radiation therapy

Also called brachytherapy, this delivers radiation from sources placed inside or on the body. Radiation can be delivered by inserting a catheter that is filled with radioactive material for a period of time. This is called temporary brachytherapy. Radiation can also be delivered by surgically inserting small pellets of radioactive medicine in or around the tumor. This is called permanent brachytherapy, though the material does not remain radioactive permanently—it typically wears off within a few days.

Systemic radiation therapy

This uses medicines called radiopharmaceuticals that are swallowed or injected into the body. Some radiopharmaceuticals are targeted therapies, and contain antibodies that help these medicines specifically target cancer cells.

As with chemotherapy, the choice of which radiation therapy to use depends on numerous factors concerning the patient and the cancer.

Chemoradiation therapy

Chemoradiation therapy is when chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used in combination with one another and is a recommended treatment approach for stage III non-small cell lung cancer, especially for people who are not candidates for surgery. Chemoradiation therapy can be administered concurrently, meaning the two therapies are given during the same treatment cycle, or sequentially, meaning that radiation therapy follows a cycle of chemotherapy.

As with other cancer treatments, chemoradiation is individualized. Its use depends on the characteristics of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. Taken on their own, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are hard on the body and can cause significant side effects. Concurrent therapy is the preferred option, though is not recommended for every patient.

Once treatment is completed, a patient may also be prescribed an adjuvant therapy, an ongoing treatment used to help prevent the cancer from recurring, from spreading, or from growing. This can include further cycles of either chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as biologic drugs or immunotherapies.