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Lung cancer is one of the most challenging forms of cancer to treat.

While surgical removal of endobronchial tumors is considered the gold standard treatment, up to 80% of patients present with inoperable advanced disease.¹

In these patients, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly given to help slow the progression of the cancer and provide palliative relief from dyspnea, obstructive pneumonia or atelectasis, cough or haemoptisis.^1,2 Radiotherapy can be delivered either as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or as high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.¹

HDR brachytherapy can provide quick relief of symptoms and improve survival.¹ Brachytherapy precisely delivers the dose of radiation to the target tumor, sparing surrounding tissues and organs from damage. Therefore, the risk of side effects and complications from treatment is generally low.^1,2 Brachytherapy treatment for endobronchial tumors is usually spread out over a few weeks, with one session of treatment (fraction) per week.² However at each treatment session, the radiation dose can be given in just a few minutes, making treatment convenient for patients.³

HDR brachytherapy can also be used as curative treatment for patients with limited endobronchial tumors who are not suitable for surgery or EBRT.⁴

For general information on how HDR brachytherapy works, see the background section.

References:

1. Dagnault A, Ebacher A, Vigneault E, et al. Brachytherapy 2010; Jan 30 [Epub ahead of print].
2. Van Limbergen E and Pötter R. 8. Lung Cancer. In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and Van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2002.
3. Sharma DN and Rath GK. Lancet Oncol 2009;10(12):1141-2.
4. Hennequin C, Bleichner O, Trédaniel J, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;67(2):425-30.