Surgical resection is associated with superior 5-year survival compared to stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer in healthy patients

Newswise — Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is being used increasingly in early-stage lung cancer.  Between 2012 and 2018, the proportion of otherwise healthy patients treated with SBRT increased from 15 to 26%.  

A study at the Yale University School of Medicine looked at data from the National Cancer Database for this six-year period and compared the 5-year survival rates for patients who had surgical resection and patients who elected to have SBRT. Overall, 30,658 patients were identified, including 24,729 (80.7%) who underwent surgery and 5,929 (19.3%) treated with SBRT.

In propensity-matched patients, survival favored SBRT for the first several months, but reversed after one year and long-term significantly favored surgical management (5-year survival 71.0% for surgery vs. 41.8% for SBRT). When the propensity-matched analysis was repeated to only include SBRT patients who had documented refusal of a recommended surgery, surgical management again had a superior 5-year survival with (71.4% vs. 55.9%).

The increasing usage of SBRT in otherwise healthy individuals represents a potential loss in life years for patients with early-stage NSCLC. Among patients that are eligible for either treatment, long-term survival favors surgical management, particularly for patients with a health-related life expectancy exceeding two years.

Brooks Udelsman, MD, will present this study looking at some of the reasons patients opt for SBRT, Monday, May 8, at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 103rd Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.

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Attribution to the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 103rd Annual Meeting is requested in all coverage.

ABOUT AATS

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization that encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation of cardiothoracic surgery. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the earliest pioneers in the field, its original mission was to “foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax.” Today, the AATS is the premier association for cardiothoracic surgeons in the world and works to continually enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality of patient care. Its more than 1,500 members have a proven record of distinction within the specialty and have made significant contributions to the care and treatment of cardiothoracic disease. Visit aats.org to learn more.