Ten-year survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer treated with combination chemotherapy with or without irradiation.
We evaluated the 10- to 15-year outcome of 252 patients with small-cell lung cancer entered into therapeutic clinical trials with or without chest and cranial irradiation. Thirty-two patients (13%) survived free of cancer for 2 or more years. Twelve patients (5%) survived at least 10 years free of cancer, and 10 patients are currently alive and free of cancer beyond 10 years. Six of these 10 patients currently function at a level comparable with that before diagnosis. The other 22 patients who were cancer-free at 2 years have died. Nine patients died from recurrent small-cell lung cancer 2 to 6.2 years after initiation of chemotherapy. Five died from non-small-cell lung cancer, three died of other malignancies, and five died of causes other than cancer. A small fraction of patients with small-cell lung cancer are cured of their original malignancy, but these patients remain at high risk for second cancers and death from other causes.
Johnson
B E
BE
National Cancer Institute-Navy Medical Oncology Branch, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Grayson
J
J
Makuch
R W
RW
Linnoila
R I
RI
Anderson
M J
MJ
Cohen
M H
MH
Glatstein
E
E
Minna
J D
JD
Ihde
D C
DC
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality