BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Only a small proportion of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a life expectancy greater than 2 years. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with long-term survival of patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Patients who had received chemotherapy for stage IIIb or IV NSCLC that was not amenable to radiotherapy were studied retrospectively. Data were gathered prospectively from a comprehensive database. Long-term survivors (>2 years) were compared with the other patients, with respect to clinical, biological and tumour-node-metastasis criteria. RESULTS: Data for 245 consecutive patients were collected. Thirty nine patients (15.9%) survived for more than 2 years. Long-term survivors were more likely to have had metastases at fewer sites (P = 0.008), an absence of bone metastases (P = 0.01), a performance status (PS) of 0-1 at first progression of the tumour (P = 0.002), a tumour that was controlled with first (P < 0.0001) and second-line (P = 0.004) chemotherapy, maintenance therapy (P = 0.001), curative surgery (P < 0.0001), time to first progression of the tumour of >3 months (P < 0.0001), normal LDH levels at diagnosis (P = 0.049), and a haemoglobin concentration >110 g/L at first progression of the tumour (P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, surgery, maintenance treatment, time to first progression of the tumour of >3 months, a PS of 0-1 at first progression, the number of chemotherapy agents received, and LDH levels, were significant predictors of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of these factors, and the use of maintenance therapy, when possible, may identify a population of patients with NSCLC that is likely to have a prolonged life expectancy.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Only a small proportion of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a life expectancy greater than 2 years. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with long-term survival of patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS:Patients who had received chemotherapy for stage IIIb or IV NSCLC that was not amenable to radiotherapy were studied retrospectively. Data were gathered prospectively from a comprehensive database. Long-term survivors (>2 years) were compared with the other patients, with respect to clinical, biological and tumour-node-metastasis criteria. RESULTS: Data for 245 consecutive patients were collected. Thirty nine patients (15.9%) survived for more than 2 years. Long-term survivors were more likely to have had metastases at fewer sites (P = 0.008), an absence of bone metastases (P = 0.01), a performance status (PS) of 0-1 at first progression of the tumour (P = 0.002), a tumour that was controlled with first (P < 0.0001) and second-line (P = 0.004) chemotherapy, maintenance therapy (P = 0.001), curative surgery (P < 0.0001), time to first progression of the tumour of >3 months (P < 0.0001), normal LDH levels at diagnosis (P = 0.049), and a haemoglobin concentration >110 g/L at first progression of the tumour (P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, surgery, maintenance treatment, time to first progression of the tumour of >3 months, a PS of 0-1 at first progression, the number of chemotherapy agents received, and LDH levels, were significant predictors of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of these factors, and the use of maintenance therapy, when possible, may identify a population of patients with NSCLC that is likely to have a prolonged life expectancy.
Authors: Jessica J Lin; Stephanie Cardarella; Christine A Lydon; Suzanne E Dahlberg; David M Jackman; Pasi A Jänne; Bruce E Johnson Journal: J Thorac Oncol Date: 2015-12-25 Impact factor: 15.609
Authors: Nathaniel J Myall; Solomon Henry; Douglas Wood; Joel W Neal; Summer S Han; Sukhmani K Padda; Heather A Wakelee Journal: Clin Lung Cancer Date: 2018-10-23 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Dong Soo Lee; Jin Hyoung Kang; Chang Geol Lee; Seoung Jun Kim; Young Jin Choi; Kyo Young Lee; Yeon Sil Kim Journal: Cancer Res Treat Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 4.679