Long Term Survival of Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy
Author Information
Author(s): A. van der Gaast, P.E. Postmus, J. Burghouts, C. van Bolhuis, J. Stam, T.A.W. Splinter
Primary Institution: University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt
Hypothesis
What is the long-term survival rate of small cell lung cancer patients after chemotherapy?
Conclusion
The study found a low relapse rate of 4% for small cell lung cancer after a disease-free interval of more than 2 years.
Supporting Evidence
- Twenty-six of the 28 patients who died of relapsed SCLC had relapsed before two years.
- Only two of the 55 patients (4%) with a disease-free survival of more than 2 years relapsed after a median follow-up of 5.7 years.
- Second tumors were observed in ten patients, nine of which were proven malignant.
Takeaway
This study looked at patients with small cell lung cancer who lived more than 2 years after treatment and found that very few of them relapsed.
Methodology
A retrospective study reviewing medical records of patients diagnosed with small cell lung cancer between 1980 and 1989 who survived more than 2 years after chemotherapy.
Limitations
The study did not analyze differences in pretreatment prognostic factors between the long-term survivors and the general patient population.
Participant Demographics
{"median_age":60,"age_range":"35-74","sex_distribution":{"male":65,"female":16},"performance_status":{"median":"90%","range":"30-100"},"disease_stage":{"limited_disease":68,"extensive_disease":13}}
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