title: Lung cancer in women, a different disease: survival differences by sex in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of sex-based non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) varieties on survival rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed in patients with NSCLC who were diagnosed by histological methods between the years 2000 and 2010. A chi-square test was used to compare variables. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 844 patients, 117 (13.9%) were women and 727 (86.1%) were men. Adenocarcinoma was more common in women than in men (p<0.0001). There were more women non-smokers than men (p<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in ECOG PS, weight loss>10%, stage, LDH, albumin and treatment between women and men. Women younger than 65 years (17.0 vs 12.0 months; p=0.03), who had adenocarcinoma histology (15.0 vs 10.0 months; p=0.006) and who had a hemoglobin level≥12 g/dL (18.0 vs 12.0 months; p=0.01) were found to have a better median OS rate than men. Median OS rates were found to be 13.0 months in females and 12.0 months in males (p=0.14). Among metastatic patients, the median OS was 11.0 months in females and 8.0 months in males (p=0.005). Among stage IIIB and stage IV patients who had first line platinum-based chemotherapy, the median OS was 17.0 months in women and 11.0 months in men (p=0.002). The response rate of chemotherapy was higher in women than in men (p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, we found that survival duration is longer and chemotherapy response is better in women with NSCLC who do not have anemia or comorbidities and who are mostly non-smokers with adenocarcinomas. Further studies regarding the causes of these differences may provide clarity on this subject.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey E-mail : drarifeulas@ hotmail.com.
authors: Arife
authors: A
authors: Ulas
authors: Saadet
authors: S
authors: Tokluoglu
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Kos
authors: Kamile
authors: K
authors: Silay
authors: Sema
authors: S
authors: Akinci
authors: Berna
authors: B
authors: Oksuzoglu
authors: Necati
authors: N
authors: Alkis
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey