Surgical results for small cell lung cancer based on the new TNM staging system. Thoracic Surgery Study Group of Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

Background: Operation with combined chemotherapy has been recently recommended for very early stage of small cell lung cancer without lymph node metastasis.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken in 91 patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for small cell lung cancer according to the new international staging system.

Results: The 5-year overall probability of survival was 37.1%. The 5-year survival rate was 100% for p-stage 0, 56.1% for p-stage IA, 30.0% for p-stage IB, 57.1% for p-stage IIA, and 42.9% for p-stage IIB. In the p-stage IA-IIB patients who underwent a complete resection, the 5-year survival rate of the patients treated by operation with chemotherapy was better than that of patients treated by operation alone. In addition, the 5-year survival rate of the patients who had four or more courses of chemotherapy was 80.0%.

Conclusions: These results suggest that operation should be considered for p-stage IA-IIB patients and more than four courses of combined chemotherapy might be desirable in these resectable cases.