Clinical outcomes in early-stage NSCLC treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy versus surgical resection

Background: Surgical resection is the treatment of first choice for patients with stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been shown to be a good alternative treatment. Patients and Methods: Overall survival (OS), progressionfree survival (PFS) and recurrence rates were compared between patients with stage I-II NSCLC treated with SBRT (n=53) and those treated with surgical resection (n=175). The propensity score method was used to correct for confounding by indication. Results: Before correction, the OS and PFS rates at 1 and 3 years were significantly different between SBRT and surgery, in favor of surgery. After correction, the OS and PFS after SBRT were not significantly different compared to surgery. The recurrence rates for the two treatments were also similar both before and after correction. Conclusion: This retrospective study showed that clinical outcomes after SBRT are equal to those after surgery in patients with stage I-II NSCLC.