Survival rates of older lung cancer patients: Analysis from the SEER database.

Abstract

e19683 Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignancy in the elderly and its incidence is increasing among women. In general, responses to therapy, other than surgery for local disease, has been disappointing and survival rates remain low. Methods: Data from nine SEER sites were examined for relative survival for patients registered during three successive decades: ’77-’86, ’87-’96 and ’97-’06. Survival for three age groups (65-74, 75-84 and 85+) for males and females were analyzed. Relative survival at 1, 5, and 9 years post diagnosis was compared. Results: Modest improvement in categorical survival occurred over the three decades for each of the categories studied. Women consistently demonstrated better survival than men for each of the time periods and in each of the age groups. Conclusions: The successful management of regional and distant NSCLC continues to be disappointing in spite of improvements in the delivery of radiation and chemotherapy. Promising early detection of local disease and surgical intervention following spiral CT scanning in high risk populations provides hope for improved outcomes in the near future. Explanations for the improved survival in women remain to be elucidated. Relative survival rates for lung cancer. Time since diagnosis (years) Age group (years) Calendar period 1977 to 1986 survival % (SE) 1987 to 1996 Survival % (SE) 1997 to 2006 Survival % (SE) Male Female Male Female Male Female 1 65-74 35.4 +/- .6 41.6 +/- 1.0 38.7 +/- .6 44.7 +/- .8 40.3 +/- .6 47.5 +/- .8 75-84 28.1 +/- .8 33.0 +/- 1.4 31.8 +/- .8 35.6 +/- 1.0 33.9 +/- .8 38.6 +/- .8 85+ 22.6 +/- 2.0 22.5 +/- 2.8 24.6 +/- 1.8 26.5 +/- 2.0 22.9 +/- 1.6 27.8 +/- 1.6 5 65-74 10.7 +/- .4 14.7 +/- .8 12.7 +/- .4 16.2 +/- .6 13.4 +/- .6 18.8 +/- .8 75-84 6.8 +/- .6 10.8 +/- 1.0 8.3 +/- .6 11.3 +/- .8 10.8 +/- .8 13.7 +/- .8 85+ 4.8 +/- 1.4# 7.1 +/- 2.4# 3.8 +/- 1.2 6.3 +/- 1.4# 5.5 +/- 1.6 8.3 +/- 1.6 9 65-74 1.6 +/- 1.6 10.6 +/- .8 2.2 +/- 1.2# 11.3 +/- .6 1.6 +/- 3.0 13.6 +/- 1.0 75-84 4.4 +/- .6 7.3 +/- 1.0 5.5 +/- .6 7.8 +/- .8 6.1 +/- 1.2 8.5 +/- 1.2 85+ 1.6 +/- 1.6# 1.4 +/- 1.6# 2.2 +/- 1.2# 4.4 +/- 2.0 1.6 +/- 3.0# 6.6 +/- 3.0# Abbreviations: SE, standard error to estimate 95% confidence interval.# Relative survival increased from a prior interval and has been adjusted.