Characterization of lung cancer patients, their actual treatment and survival: experience in Slovenia

Abstract

Background. The aim of the study was to establish characteristics of lung cancer patients diagnosed at the University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik in 1996, their selected and realized therapy, and survival.

Methods. The retrospective study comprises 345 patients aged from 37 to 90 years (mean 65), 285 males and 60 females. Performance status (Karnofsky): > 80 in 171 patients, 60-80 in 130 and <60 in 44 patients. Microscopically confirmed tumour in 97%: by bronchoscopy 281, transthoracic needle biopsy 23, peripheral lymph nodes biopsy 12, sputum cytology 7, pleural (effusion) cytology 4, distant metastases biopsy 2, mediastinoscopy 1, autopsy 4 patients. Histology and/or cytology: squamous 131, adenocarcinoma 86, large cell 63, small cell 51, non-small cell 1, unclassified 2. Clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): stage I 63, stage II 32, stage IIIA 48, stage IIIB 59, stage IV 77, undeterminable 2 patients. Staging in small cell lung cancer (SCLC): limited disease 24, extended disease 27 patients.

Results. The selected primary oncological therapy was changed in 11%. Realized primary therapy: radiotherapy 102 (30%), surgery 77 (23%), chemotherapy 47 (14%), supportive treatment 111 (33%). In resected patients staging was correct in 46%, underestimated in 44%, overestimated in 10%. The overall five-year survival was 7.8% (median 6.2 months) and the five year survival of resected patients was 41.9% (median 33 months). The median survival of irradiated patients was 5.7 months, of supportively treated patients 2.5 months. The survival was significantly different according to the performance status and stage.

Conclusions. The selected oncological therapy was actually realized in 89%. In our patients there was a low percentage of NSCLC treated by chemotherapy. Among five-year survivors there were 26 resected and one supportively treated patient, that confirms surgery as the most effective therapy in our lung cancer patients.