[Long-term survivors of non-small cell lung cancer treated with non-surgical therapeutic modalities]

Of 225 patients with a non-small cell lung cancer treated with non-surgical therapeutic modalities, 21 patients (9.3%) survived for two years and more. The performance status and weight loss were important prognostic factors. There was no relation between response to treatment and long-term survival in patients with an adenocarcinoma. All two-year survivors with a squamous cell carcinoma achieved a complete response or a partial response with non-surgical treatment. It is considered that improving response rate with a combined non-surgical modality treatment, including a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is important to obtain a long-term survival for those with a non-small cell lung cancer, excepting those determined to have an adenocarcinoma.