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Subpleural fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities are implicated in non-small cell lung cancer radiotherapy outcomes Cover

Subpleural fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities are implicated in non-small cell lung cancer radiotherapy outcomes

Open Access
|Apr 2023

Figures & Tables

FIGURE 1

Examples of interstitial lung abnormality subcategories. (A) non-subpleural, (B) subpleural non-fibrotic, and (C) subpleural fibrotic. White arrows point to lesions.
Examples of interstitial lung abnormality subcategories. (A) non-subpleural, (B) subpleural non-fibrotic, and (C) subpleural fibrotic. White arrows point to lesions.

FIGURE 2

Cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 radiation pneumonitis by group (A) and subgroup (B).ILAs = interstitial lung abnormalities; ILD = interstitial lung disease; NS = non-subpleural; SF = subpleural fibrotic; SNF = subpleural non-fibrotic
Cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 radiation pneumonitis by group (A) and subgroup (B).ILAs = interstitial lung abnormalities; ILD = interstitial lung disease; NS = non-subpleural; SF = subpleural fibrotic; SNF = subpleural non-fibrotic

Characteristics of patients treated with radical-intent radiotherapy

CharacteristicNormal (n = 87)ILA-SF (n = 24)p
Age (years)69 (41–90)73 (60–82)0.09
Performance status0.39
  041 (47%)12 (50%)
  136 (41%)8 (33%)
  26 (7%)4 (17%)
  34 (5%)0 (0%)
Pack year45 (0–171)53 (0–122)0.38
KL-6 (U/mL)294 (151–1607)399 (208–705)0.91
Pathology0.09
  Adenocarcinoma46 (53%)7 (29%)
  Squamous cell carcinoma35 (40%)14 (58%)
  Others6 (7%)3 (13%)
Lower-lobe primary lesion19 (22%)6 (25%)0.79
T classification0.36
  113 (15%)1 (4%)
  223 (26%)10 (42%)
  319 (22%)5 (21%)
  432 (37%)8 (33%)
Concurrent chemotherapy58 (67%)13 (54%)0.33
Durvalumab15 (17%)1 (4%)0.19
Mutation8 (13%)3 (18%)0.70
Median follow-up: survivors (years)2.8 (0.6–12.1)1.5 (0.7–6.0)0.46

Univariate and multivariate analyses for overall and progression-free survival rates

ParameterOverall survivalProgression-free survival

UnivariateMultivariateUnivariateMultivariate

HR (95% CI)PHR (95% CI)pHR (95% CI)pHR (95% CI)p
ILA-SF2.59 (1.51–4.43)<0.0013.07 (1.17–8.10)0.021.88 (1.16–3.05)0.011.95 (0.91–4.14)0.08
Age (years)1.02 (0.99–1.04)0.090.95 (0.91–0.99)0.041.01 (0.98–1.03)0.59
Sex (men)1.21 (0.70–2.10)0.490.91 (0.58–1.45)0.71
Performance status (0,1 vs. 2,3)1.90 (1.07–3.39)0.030.82 (0.19–3.38)0.782.81 (1.66–4.78)<0.0011.35 (0.46–3.93)0.59
Pack year1.01 (1.00–1.01)0.041.01 (0.99–1.02)0.141.00 (0.99–1.01)0.67
%VC (%)0.99 (0.98–1.01)0.560.99 (0.98–1.01)0.51
FEV1 (L)0.84 (0.55–1.29)0.430.92 (0.62–1.36)0.68
FEV1/FVC (%)0.99 (0.97–1.02)0.921.01 (0.98–1.02)0.75
KL-6 (U/mL)1.00 (0.99–1.01)0.111.00 (0.99–1.01)0.341.01 (1.00–1.02)0.031.00 (0.99–1.01)0.40
Pathology (adenocarcinoma)0.46 (0.31–0.69)<0.0010.18 (0.08–0.44)<0.0010.54 (0.36–0.79)0.0020.34 (0.18–0.65)0.001
Lower-lobe primary lesion1.60 (1.02–2.53)0.041.03 (0.39–2.68)0.951.09 (0.72–1.65)0.69
T classification (T4 vs. others)1.15 (0.74–1.79)0.531.47 (0.99–2.17)0.051.53 (0.78–2.99)0.21
N classification (positive)1.02 (0.49–2.12)0.950.88 (0.48–1.60)0.67
Concurrent chemotherapy0.51 (0.33–0.80)0.0040.19 (0.07–0.56)0.0020.60 (0.41–0.89)0.010.65 (0.31–1.30)0.22
Durvalumab0.22 (0.08–0.60)0.0030.43 (0.11–1.69)0.220.34 (0.18–0.65)0.0010.40 (0.17–0.93)0.03
PD-L1 (positive)0.77 (0.39–1.50)0.441.03 (0.59–1.79)0.92
Mutation0.76 (0.47–1.22)0.260.96 (0.64–1.42)0.83
Radiotherapy method (IMRT)0.75 (0.43–1.30)0.310.86 (0.55–1.34)0.50
ENI0.83 (0.49–1.38)0.470.99 (0.64–1.56)0.99
Lung dose
V5 (%)0.45 (0.12–1.72)0.240.56 (0.19–1.66)0.30
V10 (%)0.37 (0.06–2.27)0.290.44 (0.10–1.92)0.28
V20 (%)0.36 (0.02–5.27)0.460.23 (0.02–2.27)0.21
Mean (Gy)0.98 (0.93–1.04)0.480.97 (0.93–1.02)0.29

Univariate and multivariate analyses of the cumulative incidence of grade ≥ 2 radiation pneumonitis

ParameterUnivariate analysisMultivariate analysis

HR (95% CI)pHR (95% CI)p
ILA2.95 (1.81–4.82)<0.0012.33 (1.18–4.61)0.01
Age (years)1.02 (0.99–1.05)0.140.99 (0.95–1.03)0.78
Sex (men)1.02 (0.57–1.84)0.94
Performance status (0,1 vs. 2,3)1.17 (0.56–2.44)0.68
Pack year1.01 (0.99–1.01)0.27
%VC (%)0.99 (0.98–1.01)0.96
FEV1 (L)1.01 (0.64–1.55)0.99
FEV1/FVC (%)0.99 (0.97–1.01)0.67
KL-6 (U/mL)1.00 (0.99–1.01)0.091.00 (0.99–1.01)0.13
Pathology (adenocarcinoma)0.58 (0.35–0.96)0.040.85 (0.42–1.72)0.65
Lower-lobe primary lesion1.22 (0.69–2.12)0.49
T classification (T4 vs. others)0.81 (0.47–1.39)0.44
N classification (positive)1.18 (0.51–2.72)0.70
Concurrent chemotherapy1.17 (0.72–1.88)0.53
Durvalumab1.32 (0.72–2.40)0.37
PD-L11.11 (0.54–2.25)0.78
Mutation1.24 (0.62–2.49)0.54
Radiotherapy method (IMRT)0.69 (0.39–1.19)0.180.38 (0.16–0.91)0.03
ENI1.06 (0.65–1.75)0.81
Lung dose
  V5 (%)2.14 (0.67–6.82)0.19**
  V10 (%)3.93 (0.85–18.2)0.08**
  V20 (%)34.8 (3.05–396.4)0.00454.8 (1.52–1977.0)0.03
  Mean (Gy)1.10 (1.04–1.17)<0.001**

Clinical details of eight patients with grade 5 radiation pneumonitis

CaseAgeILA subcategoryRadiotherapy methodConcurrent chemotherapyDurvalumabLung V20 (%)Mean lung dose (Gy)Days to death
164SFIMRTYesNo19.212.8104
273SF3DCRTYesNo21.413.9210
373SFIMRTNoNo30.615.7123
476SFIMRTYesYes34.117.9155
577SNF3DCRTNoNo33.216.5155
679SFIMRTYesNo31.517.3160
779SF3DCRTNoNo19.49.740
880SF3DCRTNoNo27.615.299

Patient characteristics

CharacteristicNormal (n = 105)ILA (n = 64)ILD (n = 6)p
Age (years)71 (41–90)72 (60–86)74 (63–86)0.01
Sex (men)82 (78%)52 (81%)6 (100%)0.70
Performance status0.42
053 (50%)37 (58%)4 (66%)
141 (39%)19 (30%)1 (17%)
27 (7%)7 (11%)1 (17%)
34 (4%)1 (1%)0 (0%)
Pack year45 (0–171)47 (0–122)48.5 (20–84)0.98
Pulmonary function test
%VC (%)99.1 (41.8–144.2)103.0 (41.8–147.5)86.9 (55.7–98.8)0.08
FEV1 (L)1.9 (0.6–3.6)2.2 (0.9–3.5)2.0 (1.5–2.1)0.12
FEV1/FVC (%)69.2 (34.1–98.1)69.8 (36.0–85.0)74.8 (62.2–86.8)0.36
KL-6 (U/mL)282 (151–3957)370 (172–896)393 (204–859)0.65
Pathology0.01
Adenocarcinoma59 (56%)21 (33%)2 (33%)
Squamous cell carcinoma40 (38%)38 (59%)4 (67%)
Others6 (6%)5 (8%)0 (0%)
Lower-lobe primary lesion (radical-intent)19 (22%)14 (33%)3 (75%)0.20
TNM classification (radical-intent)
T classification0.53
  113 (15%)3 (7%)0 (0%)
  223 (26%)12 (28%)2 (50%)
  319 (22%)13 (30%)0 (0%)
  432 (37%)15 (35%)2 (50%)
N classification0.32
  07 (9%)8 (19%)0 (0%)
  116 (18%)8 (19%)1 (25%)
  242 (48%)16 (37%)2 (50%)
  322 (25%)11 (26%)1 (25%)
Stage0.40
  II A3 (3%)1 (2%)0 (0%)
  II B5 (6%)6 (14%)0 (0%)
  III A34 (39%)15 (35%)3 (75%)
  III B36 (41%)14 (33%)0 (0%)
  III C9 (11%)7 (16%)1 (25%)
Concurrent chemotherapy65 (62%)33 (52%)2 (33%)0.20
Carboplatin + paclitaxel30 (46%)18 (55%)2 (100%)
Cisplatin + docetaxel22 (34%)8 (24%)0 (0%)
Cisplatin + vinorelbine13 (20%)7 (21%)0 (0%)
Durvalumab17 (16%)9 (14%)0 (0%)0.83
PD-L1 (positive)36 (34%)23 (36%)0 (0%)0.99
Mutation0.99
EGFR8 (7%)5 (8%)1 (17%)
ALK6 (6%)2 (3%)1 (17%)
None/unknown91 (87%)57 (89%)4 (66%)
Radiotherapy method0.08
3DCRT80 (76%)40 (63%)5 (83%)
IMRT25 (24%)24 (37%)1 (17%)
ENI77 (73%)38 (59%)4 (67%)0.06
Hypofractionated radiotherapy3 (3%)3 (5%)0 (0%)0.67
Dose escalation6 (6%)5 (8%)0 (0%)0.75
Lung dose
V5 (%)34.5 (4.3–90.8)40.3 (5.8–95.7)34.6 (10.6–66.8)0.18
V10 (%)27.1 (2.7–67.7)32.4 (3.7–81.4)27.8 (8.8–49.9)0.19
V20 (%)19.8 (1.1–44.8)22.0 (1.0–48.0)22.6 (7.3–33.0)0.59
Mean (Gy)10.8 (1.7–23.5)11.8 (2.0–19.6)12.3 (3.8–18.0)0.53
Median follow-up (years)1.8 (0.1–12.1)1.3 (0.1–9.9)0.9 (2.1–3.9)0.06
Median follow-up: survivors (years)2.9 (0.6–12.1)1.9 (0.6–9.9)0.9 (0.9–0.9)0.51
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2023-0018 | Journal eISSN: 1581-3207 | Journal ISSN: 1318-2099
Language: English
Page range: 229 - 238
Submitted on: Feb 19, 2023
Accepted on: Apr 2, 2023
Published on: Apr 20, 2023
Published by: Association of Radiology and Oncology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 times per year

© 2023 Makoto Ito, Takuma Katano, Hiroaki Okada, Ami Sakuragi, Yoshitaka Minami, Souichiro Abe, Sou Adachi, Yukihiko Oshima, Wataru Ohashi, Akihito Kubo, Takayuki Fukui, Satoru Ito, Kojiro Suzuki, published by Association of Radiology and Oncology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.