Modern oncology often obtains good results against earlier neoplasms, whilst it's still in difficulties against the advanced ones. The knowledge of paraneoplastic syndromes is crucial both to cure patients and to do an earlier diagnosis. When we recognize a paraneoplastic syndrome that comes before the clinic beginning of a neoplasm, perhaps we save a life. This review discusses all the main paraneoplastic syndromes, focusing mainly on their clinical aspect and reminding the most commonly associated cancers.

We hypothesised that anemia could represent an important prognostic factor and perioperative blood transfusions do not reduce the risk of relapse. In order to explore this topic, we assessed the correlation of preoperative anemia and blood transfusions with survival in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients who underwent radical surgery for NSCLC at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Università Politecnica delle Marche from January 1996 through December 2001, were included in our study. Four hundred and thirty-nine patients were eligible for our analysis. Survival appeared worse in patients with haemoglobin (Hb) ≤10 g/dl versus Hb >10 g/dl (p = 0.012). Stratifying patients in three groups on their Hb level (group 1: Hb ≤10 g/dl; group 2: Hb = 10–12 g/dl; group 3: Hb ≥12 g/dl), we observed a worse prognosis in patients with lower Hb levels, too (p = 0.0325) and also in the transfused population (p = 0.046). At multivariate analysis, only the age of patients, pathological stage and Hb levels resulted indicators of prognosis. Our results suggested that anemia could represent an important prognostic factor in resected NSCLC and correction of anemia in the perioperative setting does not reduce the risk of relapse.

7179 Background: In order to explore the clinical implications of anemia as indicator of prognosis, we undertook a study to assess the correlation of preoperative anemia and perioperative blood transfusions with survival in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: From January 1996 through December 2001, 439 patients underwent radical surgery for NSCLC at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Università Politecnica delle Marche. Results: Median age at surgery was 68 years (range 37 to 84); male/female ratio was 374/65.Two hundreds thirteen patients (48.5%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, 172 patients (39.2%) with squamous cell carcinoma and 25 patients (5.7%) had undifferentiated carcinoma. Pathologic stage of disease was as follows: IA in 77 patients (17.5%), IB in 149 patients (33.9%), IIA in 15 patients (3.4%), IIB 92 patients (21%) and IIIA and IIIB in 89 (20.3%) and 17 (3.9%) of patients respectively. When considering overall patient survival, there was a significant difference in subgroups of patients with lower levels of Hb. In particular survival was worse in patients with Hb ≤10 g/dl versus Hb >10 g/dl (p=0.01). When stratifying patients in three groups on the basis of their Hb level (group 1:Hb ≤10 g/dl; group 2:Hb = 10–12 g/dl; group 3:Hb ≥12 g/dl), we observed a worse prognosis in patients with lower Hb levels, too (p=0.0321).A worse outcome was observed also in the transfused population (p=0.0457). At multivariate analysis including the following factors: age, sex, histotype, pT, pN, type of surgery, hemoglobin levels and transfusions, the age of patients, pT, pN and hemoglobin levels resulted indicator of prognosis. Conclusion: Our results showed that anemia represents an important prognostic factor in resected NSCLC and correction of anemia may represent an useful strategy to improve the outcome of these patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.