Previous tumour as a prognostic factor in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of comorbidity as an independent prognostic factor in lung cancer.


METHODS
Data on 2991 consecutive cases of lung cancer were collected prospectively from 19 Spanish hospitals between 1993 and 1997 by the Bronchogenic Carcinoma Cooperative Group of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (GCCB-S). To evaluate the effect of comorbidity on survival, 1121 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in pathological stage I who underwent complete resection were selected, excluding operative mortality. The presence of specific comorbidities at the time of thoracotomy was registered prospectively.


RESULTS
Cox regression analysis showed that tumour size (0-2, 2-4, 4-7, >7 cm) (HR 1.45 95% CI 1.08 to 1.95), 1.86 (95% CI 1.38 to 2.51), 2.84 (95% CI 1.98 to 4.08)), the presence of a previous tumour (HR 1.45 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.79)) and age (HR 1.02 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.03)) had a significant prognostic association with survival. This study excluded the presence of visceral pleural involvement or other comorbidities as independent variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a previous tumour is an independent prognostic factor in pathological stage I NSCLC with complete resection, increasing the probability of death by 1.5 times at 5 years. It is independent of other comorbidities, TNM classification and age.
López-Encuentra
Angel
A
Pneumology Service, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida Córdoba s/n 28041 Madrid, Spain. lencuent@h12o.es
Gómez de la Cámara
Agustín
A
Rami-Porta
Ramón
R
Duque-Medina
José Luis
JL
de Nicolás
José Luis Martín
JL
Sayas
Javier
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain