The clinical features and treatment responses of small cell lung cancer patients: a single-center experience

Aim: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with an aggressive course and short survival. Conventional chemotherapy (CT) is the mainstay of SCLC treatment. However, the majority of information on chemotherapy (CT), as well as information on demographic data of patients, is based on studies from several decades ago. In this study, we aimed to determine the current demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with SCLC and to determine their responses to the treatments.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, cohort study. Definitions of survival were overall survival (TOS) and survival after metastasis (MOS). TOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis to the date of death or last visit. MOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis of metastasis to the date of death or last visit.

Results: The data of 161 patients were analyzed. Response rates obtained with 1st line CT, 2nd line CT, and 3rd line CT were 72.2%, 43.3%, and 40.4%, respectively. The median TOS and median MOS were calculated as 15.7 months (0.03-106.97) and 13.79 months (0.03-79.54), respectively. Although they were metastatic, ten patients had never received first-line CT, and the median MOS was 1.88 months and 14.62 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Twenty-one (18.9%) of the 111 patients who needed second-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was 8.39 months and 18.45 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Eighteen of the 65 patients (27.7%) who required the third-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was found to be 15.36 months and 23.86 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. The presence of metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters affecting the median TOS. And, poor performance status and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters parameters affecting the median MOS.

Conclusions: In this study, it was confirmed that early diagnosis of SCLC was associated with a survival advantage. It was shown that the patients who received and were able to tolerate the treatment had obtained a survival advantage, regardless of the disease phase.