Effect of krestin (PSK) as Adjuvant Treatment on the Prognosis after Radical Radiotherapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Authors: K Hayakawa, N Mitsuhashi, Y Saito, M Takahashi, S Katano, K Shiojima, M Furuta, H Niibe

Journal: Anticancer Research

Study Design: Retrospective analysis

Participants: 185 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (stages I-III) treated with definitive radiotherapy

Trial Length: The study period was from 1976 to 1985. The analysis focused on long-term survivors.

Intervention:

• PSK administered as adjuvant treatment to patients with epidermoid carcinoma showing good tumor shrinkage after radiotherapy

Primary Outcomes: Five-year survival rate

Summary: The study investigated the effect of krestin (PSK) as an adjuvant treatment on the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received radical radiotherapy. The analysis identified factors associated with better outcomes after radiotherapy, including early-stage disease, specific histological types, tumor location, optimal radiation dose, smaller radiation field size, and good host condition (including BRM use). The study specifically highlighted that administering PSK to patients with epidermoid carcinoma and good tumor response to radiotherapy significantly improved the 5-year survival rate compared to the non-PSK group. The findings suggest that PSK may be a beneficial adjuvant therapy for select patients with non-small cell lung cancer following radiotherapy. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting patients with good tumor regression after radiotherapy for future clinical trials combining BRM and radiotherapy.