Background & objective: Multi-disciplinary management for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been applied for more than ten years. The progresses in the diagnosis and management of NSCLC might change the factors affecting prognosis. This study was to explore the prognostic factors of NSCLC after complete resection.
Methods: Clinical data of 899 NSCLC patients, underwent complete resection from Jan. 1997 to Apr. 2001 at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, were reviewed. The patients were followed up till 31st Mar. 2006. Survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognosis was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: The 5-year survival rate of the 899 patients was 43.5% and the median survival time was 48 months. The 5-year survival rates were 81.0% for the patients at stage IA, 60.3% for stage IB, 56.9% for stage IIA, 45.7% for stage IIB, 23.5% for stage IIIA, 20.8% for stage IIIB, and 13.0% for stage IV. Univariate analysis showed that T stage, N stage, M stage, histological type, differentiation, chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma (ADC) at stages II and IV, and mediastinal radiotherapy for ADC at stage N2 were prognostic factors. Multivariate analyses showed that histological type, T stage, N stage, M stage and mediastinal radiotherapy for ADC at stage N2 were independent prognostic factors.
Conclusion: Besides T stage, N stage, and M stage, histological type and mediastinal radiotherapy for ADC at stage N2 are also independent prognostic factors of NSCLC after complete resection.