American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria: Radiation Therapy for Limited-Stage SCLC 2020

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-6-2020

Publication Title

J Thorac Oncol

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Combined modality therapy with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation has long been the standard of care for limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC). However, there is controversy over best combined modality practices for LS-SCLC. To address these controversies, the American Radium Society (ARS) Thoracic Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Committee have developed updated consensus guidelines for the treatment of LS-SCLC.

METHODS: The ARS AUC are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guidelines include a review and analysis of current evidence with application of consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of treatments recommended by the panel for LS-SCLC. Agreement or consensus was defined as less than or equal to 3 rating points from the panel median. The consensus ratings and recommendations were then vetted by the ARS Executive Committee and subject to public comment before finalization.

RESULTS: The ARS Thoracic AUC committee developed multiple consensus recommendations for LS-SCLC. There was strong consensus that patients with unresectable LS-SCLC should receive concurrent chemotherapy with radiation delivered either once or twice daily. For medically inoperable T1-T2N0 LS-SCLC, either concurrent chemoradiation or stereotactic body radiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is a reasonable treatment option. The panel continues to recommend whole-brain prophylactic cranial irradiation after response to chemoradiation for LS-SCLC. There was panel agreement that prophylactic cranial irradiation with hippocampal avoidance and programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death-ligand 1-directed immune therapy should not be routinely administered outside the context of clinical trials at this time.

CONCLUSIONS: The ARS Thoracic AUC Committee provide consensus recommendations for LS-SCLC that aim to provide a groundwork for multidisciplinary care and clinical trials.

PubMed ID

33166720

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

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