Lung cancer in West Sweden 1976-1985. A study of trends and survival with special reference to surgical treatment

Survival among Chinese women with lung cancer in Singapore: a comparison by stage, histology and smoking status

Lung cancer generally carries a poor prognosis and the determinants of survival have been of interest. However, survival estimates in Asian populations are scarce. This study describes survival rates and their determinants in Singapore Chinese women, a primarily non-smoking population. Three hundred and twenty-six Chinese women, diagnosed with primary lung carcinoma in three major hospitals in Singapore between April 1996 and December 1998, were followed up till 31 December 2000. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Two hundred and eighty (85.7%) died from the disease during follow-up. The median survival time was 0.7 years and the three-year survival was 15.8%. These survival rates are similar to those of Western populations, and they provide a basis for examining trends over time. Age at diagnosis was an independent prognostic factor [adjusted hazard ratio (relative risk) 1.4, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1-1.9 for women above 65 years relative to younger women]. Most (70.5%) tumours were stage III/IV at diagnosis. Three-year survival ranged from 72% among patients with stage I tumours to 7% for stage IV tumours. Overall, there was no survival difference among different histological types in all stages combined. When limited to stages I and II cancers, adenocarcinomas were associated with a better outcome relative to other histological subtypes combined (adjusted relative risk 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-1.0). Smoking was an independent risk factor (adjusted relative risk 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.8). Nevertheless, non-smokers comprised 57.4% of this series, highlighting the importance of increased awareness among health professionals and the public that lung cancer is not only a disease of smokers. The high proportion of late-stage tumours in this study and the impact of disease stage on outcome underline the importance of early detection in improving survival of lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening by spiral CT. What is the optimal target population for screening trials?

The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for the selection of the optimal target population for lung cancer screening trials with Spiral Computer Tomography based on an analysis of risk factors and high-risk populations. Our recommendations are to include current or ex-smokers (<5 years) with a smoking history of at least 30 years and an average consumption of at least 20 cigarettes a day. When these selection criteria are applied there is no need for a lower age cut-off. Elderly people can be included as long as their life expectancy is more than 10 years. Participants should be fit enough to undergo thoracic surgery. They may have a history of previous cancer, provided that the cancer has been curatively treated at least 5 years ago without evidence of relapse, except for breast cancer, melanoma and hypernephroma. People with an inability to lie flat, who are unable to hold their breath for 20 s, with a body weight above 140 kg, a chest CT scan within 1 year before enrolment or a previous pneumonectomy should not be invited. The inadequacy of the unit 'Pack-Years' (PY) to estimate the individual lung cancer risk is recognised, and future initiatives to develop an appropriate lung cancer risk model are encouraged.

A prospective study of a total material of lung cancer from a county in Sweden 1997-1999: gender, symptoms, type, stage, and smoking habits

The epidemiology of lung cancer is changing in many parts of the world. In the industrialized countries, there is a trend that the incidence in men is declining, while it is increasing for women. Also, adenocarcinomas are becoming relatively more common, especially among men. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether such trends also occur in Sweden and also to describe other aspects of an unselected lung cancer material today, such as symptoms, stage and smoking habits. In the county of Gaevleborg, Sweden, practically all patients with lung cancer are referred to the lung department, and thus a total material of lung cancer patients with only a minimal selection bias can be studied. All patients with lung cancer in the county from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1999, were investigated prospectively regarding stage, type of cancer, and symptoms. In all, there were 364 patients, 237 (65.1%) men and 127 (34.9%) women. The mean age for men was 69.8 and for women, 68.1 years. 91.9% of the men and 78.6% of the women were smokers or ex-smokers. In general the men were heavier smokers than were the women (P<0.0001). Adenocarcinoma was the most common subtype found in women and squamous cell carcinoma in men. The excess of adenocarcinoma in women was due to never-smoking women; for smoking and ex-smoking men and women, the proportion of adenocarcinomas was the same. In all, 240 patients (68.0%) were diagnosed at Stage IIIb (27.2%) or IV (40.8%), with no significant differences between the sexes. The most common first symptom was cough. Only 7.0% of patients were asymptomatic. In conclusion, the trend of an increasing proportion of adenocarcinoma in lung cancer is seen also in Sweden. A depressingly high percentage of patients present in late stages and are thus inoperable.

[Epidemiological study of lung cancer in the northern part of the province of Castellón]

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence and survival of bronchopulmonary carcinoma in the northern part of the Spanish province of Castellón while collecting other epidemiologic data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective, observational study enrolled all patients residing habitually in northern Castellón with diagnoses of bronchopulmonary carcinoma recorded from 1 January 1993 until 31 December 1997. Enrollment criteria were cytohistologic confirmation of diagnosis or suspicion based on clinical, radiologic and/or bronchoscopic data.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen patients (100 men, 18 women) were so diagnosed, giving a world population-adjusted incidence of 17.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (men: 31.2; women: 4.5). Smokers or ex-smokers accounted for 84.7% and 74.5% were over 60 years of age. Cytohistologic confirmation was obtained for 117 patients (99%). Epidermoid carcinoma predominated (58%) and surgery was performed in only 23% of the cases. Only one patient was lost to follow-up during the study period. Mean 5-year survival was 7.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The standardized incidence of bronchopulmonary carcinoma in 1993-1997 in the northern part of Castellón was 17.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (women: 31.2; women: 4.5), with epidermoid carcinoma predominating and a five-year survival rate of 7.6%.

The influence of lung cancer mass screening on surgical results

BACKGROUND

After the introduction of the mass screening program for lung cancer, the number of patients detected by mass screening increased as well as the number of early staged patients. Therefore, we examined the influence of lung cancer mass screening on surgical results.

METHODS

A total of 1177 primary lung cancer cases, who underwent surgery from 1963 to 1992, were retrospectively reviewed. They were grouped according to the changes in the mass screening system: the first period (1963-1977) before lung cancer screening started, the second period (1978-1986) when mass screening was conducted by the local government, and the third period (1987-1992) after the launching of the national screening program.

RESULTS

The rate of cases detected by mass screening increased over time and the 5-year survival rate improved significantly, from 33.7% in the first period, to 51.8% in the second period and finally, to 58.4% in the third period. The improvement is attributable to a relative increase of rate of stage I cases and better stage I survival rate. Specifically, in stage I cases, improvement resulted from a relative increase of stage IA in peripheral type and roentgenographically occult lung cancer cases and from better survival rate of these two groups.

CONCLUSION

As lung cancer screening has come into widespread use, detection of peripheral small-sized lung cancer and roentgenographically occult lung cancer have increased and consequently, surgical results have improved.