Malignant endobronchial obstruction (MEBO) is the most debilitating complication in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The therapeutic role of cryotherapy and its impact on survival has not been well addressed. This is to clarify whether the combination of endobronchial cryotherapy (EBCT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improved symptoms, respiratory functions, performance status, and survival outcomes in inoperable NSCLC with symptomatic MEBO compared to that obtained by CRT alone. A prospective cohort study included 60 cases presented to Qena University Hospital, Egypt, between December 2016 and May 2019. They were divided into two groups. Group A included 30 patients who were managed with EBCT plus CRT. Group B included 30 patients who were managed with CRT alone. The outcomes assessed were symptoms relief, respiratory function tests (RFT), performance status, and survival outcomes at baseline and 4 weeks of follow-up. Group A patients showed a highly significant improvement in symptoms (cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis), RFT, 6MWD test, and arterial blood gases, compared to group B. The mean Karnofsky score increased from 57.33±5.67% at baseline to 60.67±6.39% post-EBCT (P=0.036); group A was significantly improved compared to group B (P=0.04). The Kaplan-Meier median survival for all patients was 9.7±0.4 months (95% CI= 8.86–10.54), and group A cases (10.77±0.44 months, 95% CI= 9.9–11.6) was significantly longer than that of group B cases (8.6±0.68 months, 95% CI= 7.3–9.97; T test = 2.631, P=0.011). The use of EBCT with CRT for the management of MEBO in symptomatic patients with inoperable NSCLC is an efficient and safe procedure. EBCT improves clinical outcomes, RFT, performance status, and median survival. ClinTrial.Gov registration: NCT04710459 on 4/3/2021.

中文翻译：

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不可手术的NSCLC患者行支气管内冷冻治疗的恶性支气管梗阻的价值：临床和生存结局的前瞻性分析

恶性支气管内阻塞（MEBO）是非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）中最使人衰弱的并发症。冷冻疗法的治疗作用及其对生存的影响尚未得到很好的解决。这是为了阐明与单独使用CRT相比，合并有症状MEBO的非手术NSCLC联合使用支气管内冷冻疗法（EBCT）和放化疗（CRT）是否能改善症状，呼吸功能，表现状态和生存结果。一项前瞻性队列研究包括2016年12月至2019年5月之间送往埃及Qena大学医院的60例病例。它们分为两组。A组包括30例接受EBCT加CRT治疗的患者。B组包括30例仅接受CRT治疗的患者。评估的结果包括症状缓解，呼吸功能测试（RFT），基线和4周随访时的表现状态和生存结果。与B组相比，A组患者的症状（咳嗽，呼吸困难和咯血），RFT，6MWD测试和动脉血气有显着改善。平均Karnofsky评分从基线的57.33±5.67％增加到60.67±6.39 EBCT后的百分比（P = 0.036）；与B组相比，A组有显着改善（P = 0.04）。所有患者的Kaplan-Meier中位生存期为9.7±0.4个月（95％CI = 8.86–10.54），A组病例（10.77±0.44个月，95％CI = 9.9–11.6）明显长于B组病例（8.6±0.68个月，95％CI = 7.3–9.97； T检验= 2.631，P = 0.011）。在无法手术的非小细胞肺癌的有症状患者中，EBCT与CRT联用于MEBO的治疗是一种有效且安全的方法。EBCT可改善临床结局，RFT，表现状态和中位生存期。ClinTrial.Gov注册于2021年4月3日的NCT04710459。