Nonanatomic prognostic factors in carcinoma of the lung: a multivariate analysis.

Existing records of 651 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma registered at the Kingston Clinic of the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation during the period between 1965-1974 were examined in order to determine the relationship to survival of the following four "nonanatomic" prognostic factors: symptomatic history, performance status, weight loss, and age. Even when stage, histologic factors, and treatment were taken into account, it was found that weight loss and performance status significantly affected survival. Age, however, was related to survival only when the treatment given to the patient was not considered. Symptomatic history was important in so far as it related to weight loss and performance status. These results are compared to those obtained in other series and the implications discussed.