Research Article: Impact of ALC Nadir and EDRIC on survival outcomes in limited-stage small cell lung cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective analysis comparing twice-daily and once-daily radiotherapy
Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) nadir and estimated dose of radiation to immune cells (EDRIC) in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).
This study analyzed 288 patients with LS-SCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) between 2019 and 2023. ALC nadir and EDRIC were evaluated for prognostic value across patients receiving twice-daily (BID) and once-daily (QD) radiotherapy. Survival outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS).
Despite lower lymphocyte counts during early treatment in the BID group, the ALC nadir was significantly higher in the BID group compared with the QD group (median ALC nadir: 0.60 × 10 9 /L vs. 0.49 × 10 9 /L, P < 0.001). In the BID group, patients with ALC nadir > 0.55 × 10 9 /L showed significantly longer OS (median OS: NR vs. 46.7 months, P = 0.011), PFS ( P = 0.022), and BMFS ( P = 0.013) compared with those with ALC nadir ? 0.55 × 10 9 /L. Patients in the high EDRIC group had significantly shorter PFS ( P = 0.001) and BMFS ( P = 0.003), and a trend toward shorter OS ( P = 0.179). In the QD group, no significant differences were observed when stratified by ALC nadir or EDRIC ( P > 0.05).
ALC nadir and EDRIC demonstrated prognostic significance in the BID group but not in the QD group, suggesting potential differences in radiation-associated immune effects between fractionation schedules.
Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) nadir and estimated dose of radiation to immune cells (EDRIC) in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).
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