Objective : To determine whether sex, side, extent of resection, histologic condition, and stage have any influence on long-term survival.
Methods : From January 1992 to December 1994, 100 consecutive patients underwent lung resection for a non-small cell lung cancer. Follow-up was complete for all patients. Multivariate Cox regression was used to test the relationship of survival to sex, side of operation, extent of resection, histology, and surgical stage.
Results : The population in this study had the following characteristics at the time of operation: The male/female ratio was 6.14/1, and the median age was 62.5 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was predominantly found (52%), followed by adenocarcinoma (23%) and large cell carcinoma (18%). The stage of disease was stage IA in 23 patients, IB in 35, IIA in 7, IIB in 16, IIIA in 9, and IIIB in 10. The extent of resection was a pneumonectomy in 41 patients and a lesser resection in 59 patients. The minimal follow-up on all patients was 72 months from initial treatment. Survival rates for surgical N0, N1 and N2 after 5 years were 55%, 22% and 11% respectively. In the univariate analysis, a statistical significant difference was noted between N0 and N1 (p=0.0019), and between N0 and N2 (p=0.0064). In the multivariate analysis the 4 independent variables with impact on survival were extent of operation, side of operation, pN and pstage (p<0.05).
Conclusions : In patients with surgically treated lung cancer, extent of operation, side of operation, and pN were prognostic factors for long-term survival.