Propensity Score Matching Analysis for the Role of Surgery in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Background: The role of surgery for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not clear. We aimed to evaluate this issue using a population-based database. Methods: Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 with SCLC staged T1–4 N0–2 M0 disease were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce bias between the surgical and nonsurgical patient groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival (OS) for the matched patients. Results: A total of 8,811 patients were retrieved, including 863 patients who underwent surgical resection. After 1:1 PSM, a matched cohort with 1,562 patients was generated. In the matched cohort, surgery was associated with 5-year OS improvement (from 16.8 to 36.7%, p < 0.001) and lung cancer-specific survival improvement (from 21.6 to 43.2%, p < 0.001). Survival benefits of surgery were significant in all subgroups, including N1–2 disease, except for patients with a tumor size >5.0 cm or T3 disease. Conclusions: Patients with SCLC of limited stage can benefit from surgery, including N1–2 disease. However, patients with a tumor size >5.0 cm or advanced T stage may be unable to benefit from surgery.