S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy versus cisplatin alone with concurrent radiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND We investigated the efficacy and safety of S-1 and cisplatin with concurrent thoracic radiation (SCCR) over cisplatin alone plus concurrent thoracic radiation (CCR) for unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Between January 2009 and November 2011, 40 eligible patients with NSCLC were included and divided randomly into two groups. Twenty patients received SCCR with S-1 (orally at 40 mg/m(2) per dose, b.i.d.) on days 1 through 14, cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) on day 1) every 4 weeks for two cycles, and radiotherapy (60 Gy/30 fractions over 6 weeks) beginning on day 1. Twenty subjects received CCR (cisplatin and radiotherapy, the same as for SCCR). RESULTS The 3-year overall response rate was 59.3% and 52.4% for the SCCR and CCR groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant, while the median overall survival was 33 months (range, 4-41 months) and 24 months (range, 2-37 months), respectively (P = 0.048). The median progression-free survival was 31 months for SCCR (range, 5-39 months), whereas it was 20 months (range, 2-37 months) for CCR (P = 0.037). The toxicity profile was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION In summary, we demonstrated that S-1 and cisplatin with concurrent thoracic radiation was more effective than cisplatin plus radiotherapy in NSCLC patients with acceptable toxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trials Register: ChiCTR-TRC-13003997 .