Abstract
New biological factors have not been extensively studied in stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) as a prognostic factor in stage III NSCLC, in addition to the stage and other known clinical factors. Clinical characteristics were retrieved from the patients' charts. Membrane immunostaining for EGF-R was evaluated by three independent observers. The Cox multivariate model, including all variables with a p-value of <0.2 in univariate analysis, was used to assess the impact of clinical and biological factors on patients survival. Between January 1987 and July 2002, 99 assessable stage III NSCLC patients were included in the study. A total of 23 patients were positive for EGF-R (squamous 39.6% versus nonsquamous 7.8%). In multivariate analysis, only three factors were statistically significantly associated with survival: performance status, surgery and creatinine. In conclusion, good performance status, surgical resection and creatinine were found to be independent favourable prognostic factors for survival in a retrospective analysis of stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer, while epidermal growth factor receptor was not even in the univariate analysis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
