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American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria Systematic Review and Guidelines on Reirradiation for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Executive Summary

C. B. Simone, Arya Amini, I. Chetty, J. I. Choi, Stephen G. Chun, Jessica Donington, M. J. Edelman, Kristin A. Higgins et al.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 2025

25 citations

Abstract

Definitive thoracic reirradiation can improve outcomes for select patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with locoregional recurrences. To date, there is a lack of systematic reviews on safety or efficacy of NSCLC reirradiation and dedicated guidelines. This American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria Systematic Review and Guidelines provide practical guidance on thoracic reirradiation safety and efficacy and recommends consensus of strategy, techniques, and composite dose constraints to minimize risks of high-grade/fatal toxicities. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic review assessed all studies published through May 2020 evaluating toxicities, local control and/or survival for NSCLC thoracic reirradiation. Of 251 articles, 52 remained after exclusions (3 prospective) and formed the basis for recommendations on the role of concurrent chemotherapy, factors associated with toxicities, and optimal reirradiation modalities and dose-fractionation schemas. Stereotactic body radiation therapy improves conformality/dose escalation and is optimal for primary-alone failures, but caution is needed for central lesions. Concurrent chemotherapy with definitive reirradiation improves outcomes in nodal recurrences but adds toxicity and should be individualized. Hyperfractionated reirradiation may reduce long-term toxicities, although data are limited. Intensity modulated reirradiation is recommended over 3D conformal reirradiation.…

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