Trends, predictors, and impact of systemic chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer patients between 1985 and 2005.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The last 3 decades have witnessed limited therapeutic advances in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) management. This study evaluated real-world trends in the use of systemic therapies and the impact on patient outcomes in the United States.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was used to find patients diagnosed with SCLC between 1985 and 2005. The 1985-1990 period served as the baseline for a temporal analysis conducted at 5-year intervals (1985-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2000, and 2001-2005). Cox proportional models were used to estimate the effect of chemotherapy on survival. Results were validated with a propensity-matched analysis.

Results

There were 47,351 eligible patients: 52% were male; the median age was 71 years; and 8

SUBMITTER: Behera M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4707063 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature