Survival Outcomes in Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine the survival outcomes in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy and to evaluate the prognostic factors that may affect survival. METHODS 83 patients diagnosed with limited-stage SCLC were identified retrospectively. Demographic features, clinical information, hemoglobin level, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and albumin levels were recorded. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local regional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), and differences were assessed using the Log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was performed to evaluate the potential prognostic variables. RESULTS Thoracic radiotherapy was given with 1st or 2nd chemotherapy in 68.7% of the patients. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was applied to 45.9% of the patients. At a median follow-up of 14 (3-83) months, 5 of the patients were alive at the final follow-up. Disease recurrence was observed in 31 patients, distant metastases were detected in 51 patients. Median and 2-y OS, PFS and LRRFS were 16, 11, and 14 months and 31.8%, 20.5%, and 26.9%, respectively. Hypoalbuminemia was found to affect PFS and LRRFS in univariate analysis (p=0.033, p=0.044). In subgroup analysis, PCI was effective on OS (p=0.045). In multivariate regression analysis, no significant relationship was found between PCI and OS (p=0.055), hypoalbuminemia was statistically significant on PFS and LRRFS (p=0.022, p=0.032). CONCLUSION With the addition of PCI to the treatment, there was a tendency to improve in terms of OS. Low albumin level at the time of diagnosis was found to negatively affect PFS and LRRFS.