Palliative radiation will relieve symptoms such as cough in 60% of the patients and hemoptysis (coughing up blood ) in 80%. HDR will relieve obstruction and improve symptoms in 75%. (see HDR section) some studies are noted below

It's worth pointing out that radiation will shrink the cancer in 60 - 80% of the time (response) and relieve symptoms in 60 to 80% of the time and chemotherapy typically gets a response rate of only 20-40% (go here).

Prospective evaluation of a watch policy in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer.

Carroll. The requirement for palliative chest radiotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was assessed in a study of 134 inoperable patients not suitable for radical radiotherapy. Immediate chest radiotherapy was judged necessary in 86 (64%) because of significant symptoms from intrathoracic tumour or involvement of proximal airways. Forty-eight patients were monitored regularly without initial radiotherapy and of these, 26 (54%) required later chest irradiation because of progressive and significant symptoms due to intrathoracic disease.

Lung Cancer 1995 Oct;13(2):137-43

Palliative radiation for stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer--a prospective study of two moderately high dose regimens.

Abratt. In the patients treated to 35 Gy and 45 Gy, the median survival was 8.5 months in both groups, the symptomatic response rate was 68% and 76% and the incidence of moderate to severe radiation oesophagitis was 23% and 41% respectively. The latter approached statistical significance (P = 0.07, chi square). There was no evidence of a dose response effect on survival in the moderate dose range in patients treated palliatively for locally advanced NSCLC.

Can J Oncol 1996 Feb;6 Suppl 1:25-32

The role of palliative thoracic radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Brundage The panel concluded that radiation was indicated in the palliation of hemoptysis, chest pain, dysphagia, and dyspnea, and that the results of the MRC studies provided reasonable estimations of the efficacy and toxicity of radiation in this setting. These studies show that symptoms are more often than not improved with palliative radiotherapy (symptom improvement rates ranged from about 50 to 85%) and that palliation lasted for a substantial portion of the patients' remaining survival.

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1997 Jan 1;37(1):117-22

A retrospective quality of life analysis using the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale in patients treated with palliative radiotherapy for advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Lutz .In 54 evaluable patients, median survival was 4 months and was independent of age, stage, performance status, or histology. Ninety-six percent of the patients had at least one LCSS symptom at presentation. Fatigue was unaffected by therapy. Improvements in appetite (p = 0.68) and pain (p = 0.61) were not statistically significant. There was, however, a statistically significant reduction in cough (p = 0.01), hemoptysis (p = 0.001), and dyspnea (p = 0.0003).

Br J Cancer 1991 Feb;63(2):265-70

Inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a Medical Research Council randomised trial of palliative radiotherapy with two fractions or ten fractions. Report to the Medical Research Council by its Lung Cancer Working Party.

A total of 369 patients with inoperable, histologically or cytologically confirmed disease, too advanced for radical 'curative' radiotherapy, and with their main symptoms related to the primary intrathoracic tumour even if metastases were present, were studied. They were allocated at random either to a regimen of 17 Gy given in two fractions of 8.5 Gy 1 week apart (F2 regimen), or to a conventional multifractionated regimen of either 30 Gy in ten fractions or 27 Gy in six fractions (a biologically equivalent dose), given daily except at weekends (FM regimen). As assessed by the clinicians, palliation of the main symptoms was achieved in high proportions of patients ranging in the F2 group from 65% for cough to 81% for haemoptysis and in the FM group from 56% for cough to 86% for hemoptysis. Hemoptysis, chest pain, and anorexia disappeared for a time in well over half the patients with these symptoms, and cough in 37%. For all the main symptoms, the median duration of palliation was 50% or more of survival. Performance status improved in approximately half of the patients with a poor status on admission.

Sb Lek 1996;97(4):487-92

Palliative radiotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma].

Petruzelk. Palliation of the main symptoms has been achieved in 68% for cough, in 83% for hemoptysis, in 89% for chest pain, in 60% for dyspnes and in 100% for VCS  (in combination with chemotherapy). The median duration of palliation was 14.7 weeks for all the main symptoms, e.g. more than 50% of overall survival. The therapeutical effect has been achieved in the more than 80% cases of pain, hemoptysis and VCS syndrome.

Strahlenther Onkol 1993 Dec;169(12):709-15

Palliative radiotherapy in asymptomatic patients with locally advanced, unresectable, non-small cell lung cancer.

Reinfuss  Twelve-month survivals in the radiotherapy and control groups were 32.4% and 9.3%, respectively; 24-month survivals 11.2% and 0%, respectively.

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1988 May;14(5):867-71

A randomized study on palliative radiation therapy for inoperable non small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Teo.  45 Gy/18 fractions/4 1/2 weeks were given in arm 1 and 31.2 Gy/4 fractions/4 weeks were given in arm 2. One hundred twenty-eight of 273 were included in arm 1 and 145/273 in arm 2.  Prognosis was poor with an overall median survival of 20 weeks and was similar in both arms. Radiological tumor response was also similar: 53% in arm 1 and 50% in arm 2. However arm 1 was superior than arm 2 in achieving symptom palliation, 71% vs 54%, p less than 0.02.