Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Minority patients in the United States present with later stages of lung cancer and have poorer outcomes. Cultural factors, such as beliefs regarding lung cancer and discrimination experiences, may underlie this disparity. ⋯ Fatalism and medical mistrust are more common among minorities and may partially explain the disparities in cancer stage at diagnosis. Addressing these factors may contribute to reducing disparities in lung cancer diagnosis and outcomes.
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This study aimed to validate the utility of the new histological classification proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and European Respiratory Society (ERS) for identifying the prognostic subtypes of adenocarcinomas in Japanese patients; correlations between the classification and the presence of EGFR or KRAS mutation status were also investigated. ⋯ We found that the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification identified prognostic histologic subtypes of lung adenocarcinomas among Japanese patients. Histologic subtyping and molecular testing for EGFR and KRAS mutations can help predict patient prognosis and select those who require adjuvant chemotherapy.
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The majority of cases of both lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are attributable to cigarette smoking, but whether COPD is an independent risk factor for lung cancer remains unclear. ⋯ A diagnosis of COPD is strongly associated with a diagnosis of lung cancer, however, this association is largely explained by smoking habit, strongly dependent on the timing of COPD diagnosis, and not specific to COPD. It seems unlikely, therefore, that COPD is an independent risk factor for lung cancer.
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Thymomas are rare neoplasms with variable clinical behavior. Our primary study aim was to analyze treatment practices and outcomes in a population-based cohort of thymoma patients. We hypothesized that stage I and II thymomas would have high cure rates with resection and adjuvant radiation, whereas locally advanced cases would benefit from multimodality therapy. ⋯ Survival rates in this population-based series were comparable to those in previously published reports. The ideal management of thymic tumors involves a multidisciplinary approach, particularly in locally advanced disease and selection of patients for adjuvant radiation therapy.