Multicenter analysis of survival and prognostic factors in pathologic stage I non-small-cell lung cancer according to the new 2009 TNM classification.

INTRODUCTION: The new 2009 TNM classification introduced important modifications in lung cancer staging. The aim of this study is to validate our series of patients with pathologic stage I non-small-cell lung cancer according to the 7th edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumors and to the factors related with prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was performed. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and for multivariate analyses, Cox proportional hazards regression model was used. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, pathologic stage, T category, histology, type of resection and tumor size.
RESULTS: A total of 402 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 70.18 months. Overall 5-year survival was 68%. Males and patients over 70 had lower survival. Prognosis worsened with increasing pathologic stage, T category and tumor size. We found no statistically significant differences in prognosis for histology or type of resection. Multivariate analysis showed age, sex and pathologic stage to be independent prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Survival results and the analysis of prognostic factors in our series are similar to those published in the new 2009 TNM classification. The most important prognostic factor is pathologic stage. Other adverse prognostic factors include male sex and age over 70.