title: Blood analyses as prognostic factors in primary lung cancer.
abstract: The prognostic value of some pretreatment blood tests was analysed in a follow-up study of 189 patients with non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed in West-Norway between 1976 and 1985. At diagnosis 100 patients had stage III/IV disease. Five-year survival calculated with the life-table method was 12%. In univariate survival analyses significant prognostic factors were stage III/IV disease, weight loss, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transferase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and alkaline phosphatase, thrombocytosis, leukocytosis and anaemia. In multivariate survival analyses with the Cox's regression model stage III/IV disease, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, thrombocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significant prognostic factors. It is concluded that these blood analyses at diagnosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients may give additional prognostic information. The need for multivariate analyses is also demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Molde Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Engan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hannisdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate