Decade-Long Study Finds Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Matches Surgery Outcomes for Early-Stage Lung Cancer

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented compelling data at the upcoming American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2025 Annual Meeting, revealing that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers similar survival rates to surgery for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer over a 10-year follow-up period. The study analyzed 160 patients, split evenly between those treated with SBRT and those undergoing surgery, specifically video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy with lymph node removal.

At a median follow-up of 8.3 years, overall survival was 69% for the SBRT group and 66% for the surgical group, a difference that was statistically insignificant. Lung cancer-specific survival and recurrence-free survival rates were also comparable. Notably, although surgery was associated with a higher rate of acute complications, patient quality of life measured a decade post-treatment was similar between the groups. This reinforces the durability of SBRT as an effective treatment option.

Dr. Joe Chang and Dr. Troy Kleber emphasized that these 10-year results corroborate previous five-year data, strengthening confidence in SBRT’s long-term efficacy. They also highlighted lifestyle benefits, such as fewer short-term treatment complications and less invasive procedures—particularly advantageous for older patients at greater surgical risk.

SBRT, also known as stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR), precisely targets small tumors with high doses of radiation, making it a suitable noninvasive alternative for many. However, the physicians stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treatment planning. While SBRT is highly effective for smaller, accessible tumors, surgery remains the best option for more complex cases or larger tumors.

The study involved 80 patients receiving SBRT and 80 undergoing VATS lobectomy, all with tumors less than three centimeters, without lymph node involvement or metastases. The findings underscore SBRT’s role as an important consideration in personalized treatment strategies for early-stage lung cancer.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-years-stereotactic-body-therapy-surgery.html