Carbon Ion Beam Radiation Therapy as Part of a Trimodal Therapy for Non-small Cell Superior Sulcus Tumors: The INKA Study

PURPOSE: Superior sulcus tumors are frequently treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) followed by surgery via a trimodal approach. The INKA study evaluated the replacement of photon irradiation by carbon ion radiation therapy (C12-RT) in this regimen. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The prospective INKA study included patients with locally advanced non-small cell superior sulcus tumors (