title: Treatment-related lymphopenia in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study sought to estimate the severity, etiology, and clinical importance of treatment-related lymphopenia in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial lymphocyte counts and survival were analyzed retrospectively in 47 patients accounting for known prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total lymphocyte counts (TLCs) were normal before therapy and did not change following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following radiation, TLC fell by 67% (median 500 cells/mm(3), p <.00001). Multivariate analysis revealed an association between severe TLC and survival (HR 1.70, 95% CI: 0.8-3.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rapid and severe lymphopenia occurred in 50% of patients following radiation which was associated with reduced survival.
authors: Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Jian L
authors: JL
authors: Campian
authors: Xiaobu
authors: X
authors: Ye
authors: Malcolm
authors: M
authors: Brock
authors: Stuart A
authors: SA
authors: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies