Prognostic of small cell lung cancer treated with postoperative chemotherapy: Analysis of 111 cases

Objective: To explore the survival time of the patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with postoperative chemotherapy and the factors affecting the prognosis. Methods: The clinical data of 111 patients treated with postoperative chemotherapy, 88 males and 23 females, aged 57 (32-81), were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The overall median survival time (MST) was 38 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5 year survival rates were 85.6%, 50.6%, and 38.7% respectively. The 5 year survival rates of the patients at the stage I was 61.4%,significantly higher than those of the patients at the stages II and III (40.2% and 29.9% respectively, both P = 0.001). The 5 year survival rate of the male patients was 33.7%, significantly lower than that of the female patients (56.5%, P = 0.042), the 5 year survival rate of the patients with lymph node metastasis was 32.5%, significantly lower than that of the patients without lymph node metastasis (59.6%, P = 0.001); and 5 year survival rate of the patients, with lymphovascular invasion was 21%, significantly lower than that of the patients without lymphovascular invasion (46%, P = 0.001). Cox's multivariate analysis identified TNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, sex, lymph node metastasis, and chemotherapy cycles as independent prognostic variables. Conclusion: For SCLC treated with postoperative chemotherapy, TNM stage system is an important prognostic factor; and sex, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and chemotherapy cycles also affect the survival outcome.