Abstract
PurposeTo explore the value of radiotherapy in C-SCLC patients, especially in those receiving a radical resection.ResultsThe differences of survivals between the postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and non-PORT groups were not statistically significant. But analyzing the benefits in subgroups, PORT significantly improved OS (p = 0.015), DFS (p = 0.026), LRFS (p = 0.008) and DMFS (p = 0.030) in stage III patients. For the patients with N2 stage, all survivals of the PORT group were also statistically significantly higher than non-PORT group (p = 0.018, 0.032, 0.008, 0.042). Patients with more than 10% of metastatic lymph nodes could get a significant benefit survivals by receiving PORT (p = 0.033, 0.030, 0.025, 0.031). Having a systematic dissection of more than 17 lymph nodes was a subset which could get better OS and LRFS by receiving PORT (p = 0.045, 0.048).MethodsBetween Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2012, fifty-five patients diagnosed as C-SCLC after complete surgical resection in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method.ConclusionsPORT can significantly improve the survival of C-SCLC patients with resected pathological pN2 stage. For the patients with a large percent of metastatic lymph nodes, PORT can also improve survivals.
Highlights
Combined small cell lung cancer (C-SCLC) is defined as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) combined with an additional component that consists of any of the histological types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) can significantly improve the survival of C-SCLC patients with resected pathological pN2 stage
PORT for C-SCLC is suboptimized the treatment www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget of C-SCLC mainly refers to the guideline of SCLC
Summary
Combined small cell lung cancer (C-SCLC) is defined as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) combined with an additional component that consists of any of the histological types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The diagnosis of C-SCLC mainly depends on complete examination of pathological specimen after surgery. With the development of screening and surgical techniques, more and more patients with early lung cancer are diagnosed and have the opportunity to receive surgery and complete pathological examination as well, which led to the increase of diagnosed C-SCLC. PORT improves the treatment results in patients with pN+ SCLC, as well as those with pIIIA-N2 NSCLC. PORT for C-SCLC is suboptimized the treatment www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget of C-SCLC mainly refers to the guideline of SCLC. Due to the low incidence and lack of attention, there is no study focusing on PORT for C-SCLC yet.
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