Prognostic Factors and Treatment of Early-stage Small-cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM Only 0.1-0.17% of all lung cancer patients are diagnosed with stage I or II small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Radiochemotherapy remains the standard treatment for limited stage disease. This study focused on prognostic factors in early stage SCLC treated with radiochemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seven factors in eight patients with early stage SCLC were analyzed concerning the impact on overall survival, namely gender, age, Karnofsky performance score, N-category, UICC-stage, concurrent chemotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). RESULTS Median overall survival was 46 months. On univariate analysis, UICC stage I (48 vs. 24 months, p=0.022) and PCI (48 vs. 20 months, p=0.004) were significantly associated with improved overall survival. On multivariate analysis, PCI was an independent positive prognostic factor (p<0.001). CONCLUSION UICC stage and PCI were identified as significant predictors of survival in early stage SCLC. PCI qualified as an independent positive prognostic factor and should be administered in early-stage SCLC.