What do radiation oncologists require for future advancements in lung SBRT?

Abstract

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is a well established therapeutic option for patients affected with peripheral early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), given the positive clinical evidence accumulated so far on its efficacy and safety. SBRT is regarded as the best choice for inoperable patients, and could also be offered as an alternative to surgery to selected operable patients. More recently, its use for lung metastases progressively increased, and SBRT is now regarded as a low toxic and highly effective local therapy for lung oligometastases from different primary tumors, especially colorectal cancer. Improved planning and delivery techniques have facilitated over the years its use on large and/or centrally located primary tumors, and multiple nodules. Given the successful applications and the current wide dissemination of this technique, clinicians are now faced with an increasingly complex and multi-variable decision process. Some clinically relevant factors are still uncertain, and strategies are needed to reduce the risk of both local and distant failures. Secondly, aspects related to target delineation, dose prescription, image guidance and treatment planning still need to be fully addressed; this may hamper, at least for now, the standardization of SBRT procedures through different Institutions making any kind of direct outcomes comparison difficult. We here aim to provide a perspective on the current role of lung SBRT and its critical aspects, highlighting the potential future developments.

Keywords: Lung cancer; Lung metastases; Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy; Stereotactic body radiotherapy.