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EDITORIALS: Heine H Hansen Treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer BMJ 2002; 325: 452-453 [Full text]

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NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER – NO IMPROVEMENT IN FIVE YEAR SURVIAL RATE

Dr. J.K. Samaria   (9 September 2002)

NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER – NO IMPROVEMENT IN FIVE YEAR SURVIAL RATE 9 September 2002
Dr. J.K. Samaria, Counsultant Chest Physician Deptt. Chest Diseases,Institute of Medical Sciences,Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi-5.INDIA Send response to journal: Re: NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER – NO IMPROVEMENT IN FIVE YEAR SURVIAL RATE	Inspite of advancement of science and technology, five year survival rate from lung cancer, remains the same for almost last 3 decades. There is definite increase in overall death from the lung cancer especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Unlike developed countries, in poor countries most of the patients (>95%) of lung cancer are present with far advanced disease (stage IV).Patients with non small cell lung cancer usually die within 12 months time of detection of the disease. The curative resection of non small cell lung cancer is rare; those who undergo surgery, many of them develop recurrent metastatic disease. Patients with non small cell lung cancer are candidate for chemotherapy alone or in combination with radiotherapy and at time with palliative surgery. Today most of the patients with stage IV disease receive some form of chemotherapy all over the world. A study which includes more than 10000 patients showed that as compared with the best supportive care cisplatin based chemotherapy was superior in all major comparisons. Further it was observed that with above chemotherapy almost 70% patient had decrease in troublesome symptoms such as cough, haemoptysis and dyspnoea. Combination that includes cisplatin are probably superior to the best supportive care in terms both survival and quality of life in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is major health problem. The elimination of cigarette smoking remains the best hope for reducing mortality from the disease. More scientific advances are required for early detection of the disease especially in those who are at risk for lung cancer. References 1. Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Collaborative Group. Chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis using updated data on individual patients from 52 randomised clinical trials. BMJ 1995:311:899- 909.