A technique that has been used successfully in the past to treat liver cancer, may offer significant hope for those with inoperable lung cancer.
An international study, title the "RAPTURE" study, evaluated 106 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic cancer to the lungs from other sites, who were not considered candidates for surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Using a technique call radiofrequency ablation (RFA), physicians inserted a needle into the tumors under guidance with a CT scan, delivering high heat to burn the tumors. Only tumors less than 3.5 cm were considered for treatment.
Of these patients, 88% responded to RFA (meaning that the tumor(s) shrunk by 30% or more), and the overall survival rate at 1 year was 70%.
There were no deaths from the procedure, and no effect was noted on the quality of life or lung function for these patients. Complications occurred in 20% of the patients, most common being the occurrence of a pneumothorax or pleural effusion.
The authors concluded that further clinical trials should be done, to compare the results of RFA with standard treatments available at this time.
Source:
Lancioni, R. et al. Response to radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary tumours: a prospective, intention-to-treat, multicentr clinical trial (the RAPTURE STUDY). Lancet Oncology. July 2008. Early online publication 18 June 2008.
Wow, this is quite a breakthrough. Do I understand correctly that the patients had to have non-small cell lung cancer PLUS the lung cancer had to be nonprimary? Or was the study on two different populations? My grandmother was just diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer but the lung is the primary cancer.
My thoughts are with you Katherine!
This is actually two different populations. 33 patients had non-small cell lung cancer (primary lung cancer), 53 had metastatic lung cancer with the primary cancer colon cancer, and 20 patients had other cancers metastatic to the lungs. Has your grandmother checked out clinical trials? One of the theories behind the survival rate actually going down in the last two decades for young adults is lack of participation in clinical trials. Currently, only 10% of those over 70 with lung cancer participate in clinical trials.