Isolated nodal failure in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer after proton therapy with or without durvalumab

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Isolated nodal failure (INF) after selective nodal irradiation with 3DCRT or IMRT occurs in 2-3% of stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The potentially reduced incidental dose with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) may increase INF rates. Therefore, we investigated the INF incidence in stage III NSCLC treated with IMPT, with or without adjuvant durvalumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive stage III NSCLC patients treated with IMPT between 2019-2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary endpoint was INF incidence. Secondary endpoints were incidental dose to INF, recurrence patterns, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included. Mean age was 66 years (35-86). Stage (TNM8): IIIA (55.2 %), IIIB (37.5 %) and IIIC (7.3 %). Overall, 89 % of fractions were delivered with IMPT. Treatment was concurrent chemoradiotherapy (80 %), sequential chemoradiotherapy (17 %) and radiotherapy only (3 %). Overall, 60 % received durvalumab. The median total dose to the target volumes was 60 Gy in 30 fractions. After a mean follow-up of 27 months (1-58), only two INF were observed (2.1 %), with the 2-year cumulative risk of 2.08 % (95 % CI 0.39-6.66 %) using competing risks analysis (CRA), and 3.3 % (95 % CI 0-7.8 %) using Kaplan-Meier (KM). The incidental doses to INF were 30.7 Gy and 0.7 Gy, respectively. Mean OS (median OS not reached) was 39 months overall, and 44 and 36 months with or without durvalumab, respectively. Median PFS was 25 months. CONCLUSION: The INF rate in stage III NSCLC treated mainly with IMPT, with or without durvalumab, is 2.1 %, comparable to 3DCRT and IMRT cohorts.