Shrinkage of Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancers in Response to Induction Chemotherapy: Implications for Radiotherapy Treatment Planning

Modest decreases in tumor volume that are not reflected by the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors measurement occur in most patients. Although targeting the postchemotherapy tumor may decrease lung toxicity, the magnitude of the benefit is small. Because this strategy runs the risk of increasing the marginal recurrence rate, it should be used with caution. Quantification of tumor shrinkage and margin blurring permits more accurate reconstruction of the prechemotherapy target volume.