Trends in chemotherapy use and survival for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. B. Byrne, J. Crawford, G. Gay, J. Bonner, L. Gaspar; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; University of Colorado, Denver, CO Abstract: Background: In clinical trials chemotherapy improves survival in patients with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We searched the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to analyze the effects of age, race and sex on the use of chemotherapy and to see if chemotherapy improves survival on a population basis. Methods: The NCDB was searched for newly reported cases of metastatic NSCLC in 1985,1990, 1995, and 2000. Data was recorded for histology, age, sex, race, whether chemotherapy was given, and survival. The Pearson Chi-Square test was used to analyze the effect of age, race, and gender on patients receiving chemotherapy. The relative survival rates of patients undergoing chemotherapy were compared to patients not receiving this treatment modality. Results: 79,436 cases of metastatic NSCLC were identified. The percentage of all patients who received chemotherapy increased from 26.8% (95% Confidence interval 25.7%-28.0%) in 1985 to 45.9% (CI: 45.3%-46.6%) in 2000. The use of chemotherapy in patients greater than 70 yrs old increased from 15.7% (CI: 13.6%-17.9%) in 1985 to 34.6% (CI: 33.7%-35.5%) in 2000. In patients less than 70 yrs old, white women (58.5%) were most likely to receive chemotherapy; whereas, non-white men (47.1%) were least likely. For patients greater than 70 yrs old, white men (37.1%) were most likely to receive chemotherapy as compared to other demographic groups. Survival data is presented in the table below. Conclusions: Over the last 15 years, chemotherapy is being used more frequently in patients with metastatic NSCLC with an associated survival benefit at one and two years. Patient age, gender and race impact the likelihood of receiving chemotherapy and warrant further study. Ann's NOTE: Several things are notable with this paper. The first states that "non-white men (47.1%) were leqast likely" to receive chemotherapy. Secondly the survival table (which we are unable to reproduce) shows that survival has decreases since 1985, for those NOT receiving chemotherapy. We wonder what that's about. In fact the table showed survival of 1 year after chemo to have risen from 18.1% (1985) to 23.2% (1990) to 27.5 (1995) whereas 1 year w/o chemo in 1985 17% fell to 15.5% in 1990 and 13.4% in 1995. Abstract No: 7072 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.