Management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at a community hospital: A retrospective analysis.

Abstract

e17506 Background: The optimal management of stage IIIA NSCLC has not been clearly defined. Much of this controversy is due to the heterogenity of this group. The current standard for unresectable stage IIIA disease is concurrent chemoradiotherapy. In patients with resectable stage IIIA disease however, neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery provides better outcomes but not a significant survival benefit. Our study analyzed the management of stage IIIA NSCLC patients diagnosed at Kettering Health Network (KHN) and the observed 5-year survival as compared to the current NCCN guidelines and national 5-year relative and observed survival using the SEER database and National Cancer Database statistics. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients treated at KHN for Stage IIIA NSCLC from January 2004 to December 2009. 117 cases were analyzed, 53% female and 47% male. 42% were squamous cell, 28% adenocarcinoma, and the final 30% accounting for the remaining histology. 20 patients were not candidates for therapy due to poor performance status or comorbidity. 37 of the 97 patients under active treatment underwent resection at some point during treatment and 60 patients were deemed unresectable. Results: 68% of individuals with unresectable NSCLC received definitive concurrent chemoradiation, 32% received chemotherapy alone. In regards to resectable stage IIIA, 25% were treated with neoadjuvant therapy. 54% received postoperative therapy. 21% were treated with surgery alone due to multiple factors. The observed 5-year survival was 12.2% as compared to 10% nationally. The SEER data 5-year relative survival from 2001 to 2007 for stage IIIA NSCLC is 14%. Conclusions: In this heterogenous group of patients, treatment provided at KHN was individualized and followed national trends. The majority of unresectable stage IIIA NSCLC patients at KHN received the standard approach of concurrent chemoradiation. In terms of resectable stage IIIA NSCLC, approximately 25% were treated with either neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Overall, the 5-year survival rate for stage IIIA NSCLC at KHN is comparable to other community hospitals however slightly lower than the national average.