Survival of patients with small cell lung carcinoma treated at a single institution

Abstract

Introduction: Small cell lung cancer represents 10%-15% of the lung malignant neoplasms. An average ten new cases per year are treated at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology.

Objective: Characterize the patients with small cell lung cancer treated at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology from January 2007 to December 2018.

Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted which included demographic and clinical characteristics, the treatment received and its results. Survival was estimated and related to clinical variables.

Results: A total 106 patients were analyzed, of whom 69.8% were aged 60 years or over and 95.3% were smokers. The extensive stage was the most common (83.01%). Chemotherapy based on carboplatin / etoposide was the most frequent treatment mode. 27.4% of the patients achieved complete response to treatment. Mean overall survival was 8.4 months (CI 95%, 6.9 – 9.9). In patients receiving platin / etoposide, mean overall survival was 9.2 months (CI 95%, 6.3-12.0). Mean overall survival was statistically higher in patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group = 0 at diagnosis: 16.2 months (CI 95% 5.0 – 27.5 months) p 0.001, whereas in patients receiving holo-cranial radiotherapy, mean overall survival was 14.0 months (CI 95% 9.1 – 18.9 months) p = 0.002. Five years after diagnosis, all the patients had died.

Conclusions: The series studied showed lower survival results than those reported internationally, associated to the high number of patients at extensive stage. This was significantly determined by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group at diagnosis, the clinical stage and the use of holo-cranial radiotherapy.

Key words: small cell carcinoma, lung cancer, chemotherapy.