Univariate analysis showed that there was a 6-month period free from AE in larger proportions of patients ≥75 years of age (100.0 vs 90.3%; P = 0.0187), patients with C-reactive protein (CRP) < 0.3 mg/dl (100.0 vs 88.6%; P = 0.00751), patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (98.4 vs 50.0%; P = 0.000532) and patients with <Grade 2 radiation pneumonitis (98.0 vs 86.2%; P = 0.00186). Here, CRP is linked to radiation pneumonitis.