Population Of Lung Cancer Patients Research Articles

KRAS codon 12 mutations in Australian non-small cell lung cancer.

In certain non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) populations, codon 12 mutations of the KRAS oncogene comprising mostly G-T transversions have diagnostic and prognostic value. However, it is not known if these findings are applicable to all populations of lung cancer patients. To examine for KRAS codon 12 mutations in Australian NSCLC patients. Tumour samples and corresponding normal lung tissue from 108 Australian patients with NSCLC undergoing curative resection were studied for mutations of KRAS codon 12 using a sensitive PCR assay. Mutations were confirmed by DNA sequencing and correlated with histological subtype, tumour stage, the presence of nodal metastases and survival. Eleven KRAS codon 12 mutations were detected in 108 NSCLCs, with most (8/11) occurring in the adenocarcinoma subtype (17% prevalence), but were not associated with adverse outcome or clinico-pathological features. G-T transversions were surprisingly infrequent (37% of adenocarcinoma mutations). These data add to the evidence suggesting geographical differences in the spectrum and significance of KRAS codon 12 mutational genotypes in NSCLC. While these may be due to genetic variation and/or differences in carcinogen exposure, there is a need for larger population based studies before this potentially important biomarker can be recommended universally for optimising lung cancer management.

Application of an Algorithm for Staging Small-cell Lung Cancer Can Save One Third of the Initial Evaluation Costs

Design of a cost-effective algorithm for staging disease in patients with small-cell lung cancer. An algorithm was constructed by analyzing all permutations of a sequence of procedures required to stage disease in patients with small-cell lung cancer. Procedural costs were determined, and the model was applied to the small-cell lung cancer patient population treated at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md, from 1973 to 1989. The final algorithm was derived from the permutation with the lowest cost per accurately staged patient. A single government institute, the National Cancer Institute. Four hundred fifty-one patients with previously untreated, consecutive histologically documented small-cell lung cancer entered into therapeutic protocols at the National Cancer Institute from April 1973 through July 1989. Data were obtained from small-cell lung cancer protocol databases and patients' medical records. The cost per patient of each sequence of staging procedures when applied to the patient population. The least expensive sequence of procedures saved $1418 per patient when compared with application of a standard set of staging procedures to all patients. The major factor in reducing costs was the concept of stopping the staging procedures after a site of distant metastatic disease had been identified. An algorithm consisting of a set of sequential staging procedures can accurately stage disease in patients with small-cell lung cancer and save more than one third of the costs of an inclusive standard set of staging procedures.