[Long-term survivors of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: characterisation and prognostic factors in a retrospective study].
BACKGROUND
The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, especially for advanced stages IIIB-IV. Clinical experience shows that the evolution of the disease is heterogeneous. A small number of patients survive more than 2 years after diagnosis; they are called long term survivors (LS). The aim of our study was to characterise this subgroup of patients.


METHODS
A retrospective study in the respiratory department of a general hospital including all patients with a proven diagnosis of NSCLC stage IIIB and IV.


RESULTS
169 patients were included (43 females). There were 13.6% LS. Two thirds of the patients were PS 0-1, 84.6% were stage IIIBw-IV. Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological type. Univariate analysis revealed that long term survival was associated with a Charlson's score < or = 2, PS 0-1, a normal white blood cell count at diagnosis, adenocarcinoma histology, response (RP) to first line treatment and treatment with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI). In multivariate analysis only PS 0-1, RP and treatment with a TKI were independent factors for longer survival.


CONCLUSIONS
LS exist and represent 13.6% of our patients. TKI appear to offer new opportunities for these patients.
Dujon
C
C
Hôpital André Mignot, Service de Pneumologie, Le Chesnay, France. cdujon@ch-versailles.fr
Azarian
R
R
Petitpretz
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases