title: Small cell lung cancer in never-smokers.
abstract: Our aim was to describe the characteristics of a case-series of never-smoker small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases.Cases of SCLC were selected from a prospective, multicenter, hospital-based case-control study performed in Spain. Participants were never-smokers older than 30 years with an anatomo-pathological confirmation of primary lung cancer. We collected clinical and epidemiological variables according to the study's protocol.We included 19 SCLC cases, 18 females (94.7%), median age 75 years (interquartile range (IQR) 70-80 years). Median residential radon concentration was 195 Bq·m(-3) (IQR 130-229 Bq·m(-3)). 10 patients had limited disease and nine had extended disease. Median survival was 242 days (IQR 94-496 days); 1- and 2-year survival were 36.8% and 17.6%, respectively. Survival was much higher for individuals with limited disease than for those with extended disease (median 336 versus 235 days; 1-year survival 50% versus 22.2% and 2-year survival 27% versus 0%, respectively). Performance status at diagnosis was closely related to survival.SCLC is an infrequent, highly aggressive disease in never-smokers. Survival is poor, even for limited disease. Age at diagnosis in SCLC is higher than that observed for never-smokers with adenocarcinoma. Residential radon exposure is higher than the action levels recommended by the World Health Organization.
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres-Durán
authors.affiliation: Dept of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain Dept of Epidemiology, Brown School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA alberto.ruano@usc.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruano-Ravina
authors.affiliation: Dept of Epidemiology, Brown School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Karl T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, Ourense Hospital Complex, Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: Isaura
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parente-Lamelas
authors.affiliation: Service of Oncology, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provencio
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leiro-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, Ourense Hospital Complex, Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abal-Arca
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, University Hospital Complex of A Coruna, A Coruna, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montero-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, University Hospital Complex of A Coruna, A Coruna, Spain.
authors.forename: Iria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vidal-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Service of Oncology, Oncologic Center of A Coruna, A Coruna, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Olalla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castro-Añón
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, Santiago de Compostela University Clinic Hospital, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golpe-Gómez
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Silicosis, University Hospital of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Silicosis, University Hospital of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosirys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Taveras
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, Arquitecto Marcide Hospital, Ferrol, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mejuto-Martí
authors.affiliation: Service of Pneumology, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Villar
authors.affiliation: Dept of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain Service of Preventive Medicine, University Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barros-Dios
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D011886:Radon