To investigate the clinical effect of permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I particles and radiofrequency ablation with real-time temperature measurement for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A total of 98 patients with mid-late stage NSCLC without surgical treatment in Department of Chest Surgery, The First Hospital of Hohhot between October 2012 and January 2015 were enrolled, according to the patient will joint were divided into combined treatment group (n=45) and convention treatment group (n=53). Patients in combined treatment group underwent permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I particles and radiofrequency ablation with real-time temperature measurement, and received chemotherapy (pemetrexed+ carboplatin) 3 months after operation. Patients in conventional treatment group were just managed with chemotherapy(pemetrexed+ carboplatin). The enhanced CT was performed to determine the clinical effects one week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. The differences between two groups before and after treatment were analyzed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire—Lung Cancer 13 Chinese Edition (EORQLQ—LCl3 Chinese Edition), Quality of Survival Assessment Table for Lung Cancer and survival time.

No severe complications occurred after treatment in combined treatment group. Postoperative enhanced CT indicated that the focus gradually weakened 1 month after operation, the locations of ¹²⁵I particles aggregated 3 to 6 months after operation, solidification and necrosis of focus then gradually took place, blank cavity formed, and obvious devascularization and coagulative necrosis happened. Patients were followed up for 7 to 24 months, the survival of combined treatment group was 88.9%, and that of conventional treatment group was 49.1%. There was no significant difference in EORQLQ—LCl3 and total quality of survival before treatment between two groups(P>0.05). After treatment, EORQLQ—LCl3 and total quality of survival scores in two groups significantly improved (P<0.05); and EORQLQ—LCl3 and total quality of survival scores in combined treatment group were much better than those in conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The mean survival time in combined treatment group was (18.4±5.8) months, which was significantly longer than that in conventional treatment group [(10.9±4.2) months](t=5.763, P<0.05).

It is a simple, safe, minimally invasive and effective method to treat lung cancer with permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I particles and radiofrequency ablation with real-time temperature measurement, which can improve the quality of life and prolong patient survival in combination with conventional chemotherapy.