Time-to-Progression of NSCLC from Early to Advanced Stages: An Analysis of data from SEER Registry and a Single Institute

Abstract

The average time required for cancers to progress through stages can be reflected in the average age of the patients diagnosed at each stage of disease. To estimate the time it takes for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to progress through different tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) stages and sizes, we compared the mean adjusted age of 45904 NSCLC patients with different stages and tumor sizes from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry database and our institute. Multiple-linear-regression models for age were generated adjusting for various factors. Caucasian, African-American and Asian patients with stage IA cancers were on average 0.8, 1.0 and 1.38 adjusted years younger, respectively, than those with stage IIIB cancers (p < 0.001). And these with T1a cancers were on average 0.84, 0.92 and 1.21 adjusted years younger, respectively, than patients with T3 cancers (p < 0.001). Patients with tumors measuring larger than 8 cm in diameter were on average 0.85 adjusted years older than these with tumors smaller than 1 cm (p < 0.001), with Caucasian demonstrating the shortest age span (0.79 years, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the time-to-progression of NSCLC from early to advanced stages varied among ethnicities, Caucasian patients demonstrating a more rapid progression nature of tumor than their African-American and Asian counterparts.

Statistical analysis of mutant allele frequency level of circulating cell-free DNA and blood cells in healthy individuals

“…A high percentage of cancers are diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in the failure of curative treatment and poor quality of life for patients 1 , 2 . Thus, the identification of diagnostic markers would enable earlier diagnosis and more successful treatment for cancer patients.…”

Reconsidering lung cancer screening: is biannual screening possible?

“…A recently published report analyzing SEER registered patients has concluded that lung cancer progression is faster for Caucasians compared to other races. It would take less than one year for a lung cancer to progress from an IA or IB stage to a IIIA or IIIB stage and the authors suggest that an annual screening might not be enough to detect and avoid lung cancer detection in advanced stages (18). These results are partly supported by the findings of the commented study, where 40% of lung cancers were detected in T1 screening while those negative at baseline screening were at stage III or IV (11).…”

Prognosis of advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: adenocarcinoma <em>versus</em> squamous cell carcinoma

“…Factors associated with one-year mortality and treatment response SCC=squamous cell carcinoma, BMI=body mass index, ECOG=Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group progression. 26 Second, the period of observation in this study was one-year. As adenocarcinoma patients had a higher risk of progressive disease than squamous cell carcinoma patients, higher mortality could be shown in the adenocarcinoma group if the observation was performed for a longer period.…”