Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Though postoperative radiation for esophageal cancer is offered in selected cases, there is conflicting evidence as to whether it improves overall survival (OS). We performed a retrospective analysis using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database to analyze the impact of adjuvant radiation in a large cohort of patients. ⋯ This large population-based review supports the use of postoperative radiation for stage III SCC and AC of the esophagus. Given the retrospective nature of this study, until appropriately powered randomized trials confirm these results, caution should be used before broadly applying these findings in clinical practice.
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Concurrent radiation and chemotherapy is the standard of care for good performance status patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Locoregional control remains a significant factor relating to poor outcome. Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that docetaxel and gefitinib have radiosensitizing activity. This study sought to define the maximum tolerated dose of weekly docetaxel that could be given with daily gefitinib and concurrent thoracic radiation therapy. ⋯ Concurrent thoracic radiation with weekly docetaxel and daily gefitinib is feasible but results in moderate toxicity. For further studies, the recommended weekly docetaxel dose for this chemoradiation regimen is 20 mg/m2.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Lung cancer diagnostic and treatment intervals in the United States: a health care disparity?
Lung cancer diagnostic and treatment delays have been described for several patient populations. However, few studies have analyzed these intervals among patients treated in contemporary health care systems in the United States. We therefore studied the timing of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment at a U.S. medical center providing care to a diverse patient population within two different hospital systems. ⋯ Intervals between suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer vary widely among patients. Health care system factors, such as hospital type, largely account for these discrepancies. In this study, these intervals do not appear to be associated with clinical outcomes.
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This retrospective study was designed to identify the predictors of long-term survival and the risk factors for complications after surgery in patients aged 80 years or older with clinical (c)-stage I non-small cell lung cancer. ⋯ Octogenarian patients with c-stage I lung cancer in this study had a satisfactory long-term outcome and low-mortality rate. Comorbidity is a factor associated with both prognosis and operative risks. A selection of the patients who would be curable without mediastinal lymph node dissection after an accurate preoperative staging is beneficial to decrease the postoperative complications because this procedure is a risk factor.