Clinical results of carbon-ion radiotherapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer with concomitant interstitial lung disease: a Japanese national registry study (J-CROS-LUNG)

Anti-cancer treatments for lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are challenging. The treatment options for ILD are often limited because of concerns that treatments can cause acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ILD, using a multi-institutional registry. Patients with ILD who received CIRT for stage I NSCLC in CIRT institutions in Japan were enrolled. The indication for CIRT was determined by an institutional multidisciplinary tumor board, and CIRT was performed in accordance with institutional protocols. Thirty patients were eligible. The median follow-up duration was 30.3 months (range, 2.5–58 months), and the total dose ranged from 50 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) to 69.6 Gy (RBE), and five different patterns of fractionation were used. The beam delivery method was passive beam in 19 patients and scanning beam in 11 patients. The 3-year overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival, disease-free survival (DFS) and local control (LC) rates were 48.2%, 62.2%, 41.2% and 88.1%, respectively. Grade > 2 radiation pneumonitis occurred in one patient (3.3%). In conclusion, CIRT is a safe treatment modality for stage I NSCLC with concomitant ILD. CIRT is a safe and feasible treatment option for early lung cancer in ILD patients.