• Lucyna Kepka, Krzysztof Bujko, and Agnieszka Zolciak-Siwinska.
• Department of Radiation Oncology, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland. lucynak@coi.pl
• Acta Oncol. 2008 Jan 1; 47 (1): 95-103.

PurposeTo estimate retrospectively the rate of isolated nodal failures (INF) in NSCLC patients treated with the elective nodal irradiation (ENI) using 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT).Materials/MethodsOne hundred and eighty-five patients with I-IIIB stage treated with 3D-CRT in consecutive clinical trials differing in an extent of the ENI were analyzed. According to the extent of the ENI, two groups were distinguished: extended (n = 124) and limited (n = 61) ENI. INF was defined as regional nodal failure occurring without local progression. Cumulative Incidence of INF (CIINF) was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis with regard to prognostic factors.ResultsWith a median follow up of 30 months, the two-year actuarial overall survival was 35%. The two-year CIINF rate was 12%. There were 16 (9%) INF, eight (6%) for extended and eight (13%) for limited ENI. In the univariate analysis bulky mediastinal disease (BMD), left side, higher N stage, and partial response to RT had a significant negative impact on the CIINF. BMD was the only independent predictor of the risk of incidence of the INF (p = 0.001).ConclusionsINF is more likely to occur in case of more advanced nodal status.

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