Bulky non-small cell lung cancer treated with two-field robust proton lattice boost followed by conventional chemoradiation

Abstract

Despite advances in outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the establishment of adjuvant immunotherapy as the standard of care, locoregional recurrence is still experienced by half of patients with progressive disease. We sought to integrate a novel pencil beam scanning (PBS) spatially fractionated approach into definitive management of bulky non-small cell lung cancer cases. Spatial fractionation via lattice or more commonly GRID has long been of interest as supplement to more conventional radiation regimens for bulky tumors, though requirements for plan robustness and concerns about single-field approaches have previously limited their integration into proton therapy practice. Here we present two cases of bulky NSCLC treated with a novel two-field partially robust PBS lattice boost of 12 Gy followed by standard conventional chemoradiation. Both patients experienced usual mild treatment related toxicities and remain with their bulky lesions controlled in field at more than a year out from treatment.