Charles B. Simone II, MD

In a press briefing that preceded the 2019 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium, Charles B. Simone II, MD, a radiation oncologist and Chief Medical Officer at the New York Proton Center, noted that this study should help clinicians better understand the impact of local therapy for patients with stage IV lung cancer who present with a more limited metastatic disease burden.

“In this very large cohort of patients with oligometastatic disease with long-term follow-up, survival at 5 years of 32% for patients receiving local therapy was quite impressive and is notably higher than those not receiving local therapy,” said Dr. Simone. “The study also identifies patients who have better prognoses with local therapy, including those with a more limited metastatic disease burden and lack of bone metastasis.”

Dr. Simone continued: “Overall, the study supports the findings from several recent randomized clinical trials on radiation therapy for metastatic disease, including the SABR-COMET trial, which was presented as a Plenary Session at the 2018 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (see the December 10, 2018, issue of The ASCO Post for more on this trial). It gives us further justification to deliver early local therapy in patients with three or fewer sites of metastatic disease to improve local control, progression-free survival, and even overall survival.” ■

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Simone reported no conflicts of interest.