To investigate the clinical efficacy of CT-guided ¹²⁵I seeds implantation combined with gemcitabine + cis-platinum (GP) in the treatment of unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

From January 2013 to January 2017, 62 patients with unresectable Ⅱb-Ⅲb NSCLC were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the study group, 32 patients (17 males, 15 females, age (62.7±8.9) years) underwent ¹²⁵I seeds implantation combined with 4 courses of GP chemotherapy, and 30 patients (18 males, 12 females, age (61.9±7.0) years) in the control group underwent concurrent radiotherapy combined with 4 courses of GP chemotherapy. The short-term effects at 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared between 2 groups, as well as the survival time. Log-rank test was used to analyze the data.

The effective rates at 3 and 6 months after treatment in the study group and control group were statistically significant (90.62%(29/32) vs 70.00%(21/30), 96.88%(31/32) vs 66.67%(20/30); χ² values: 3.00 and 7.22, both P<0.05). The median survival time of the study group and control group were 17 and 15 months (χ²=2.194, P>0.05). The 1-year survival rates of 2 groups were 87.50%(28/32) and 76.67%(23/30), respectively (χ²=1.24, P>0.05), and the 2-year survival rates were 40.62%(13/32) and 20.00%(6/30), respectively (χ²=4.00, P<0.05).

¹²⁵I seeds implantation combined with GP chemotherapy is a significant treatment for unresectable NSCLC. The short-term efficacy is better than concurrent radiotherapy combined with GP regimen.

Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung; Brachytherapy; Iodine radionuclide; Tomography, X-ray computed; Drug therapy, combination