LAUSR

Key Points Question Can modern radiation techniques reduce the risk of radiation-associated esophageal adverse effects in patients with advanced lung cancer? Findings In this phase 3 randomized clinical trial of esophageal-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (ES-IMRT) or standard palliative radiotherapy for 90 patients with stage III/IV incurable non–small cell lung cancer, ES-IMRT significantly reduced symptomatic esophagitis (24% [n = 11] vs 2% [n = 1]), but did not significantly improve esophageal-related quality of life. Meaning In this trial, the use of ES-IMRT did not definitively improve esophageal quality of life but reduced symptomatic esophagitis in patients with advanced lung cancer who were receiving palliative thoracic radiotherapy; this technique holds merit for translation into clinical practice.