Chemoradiotherapy-induced hemoglobin nadir values and survival in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer

We investigated the influence of change in hemoglobin (Hgb) levels during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT) on outcomes of non-anemic patients with stage IIIA/B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

We identified 722 patients with stage IIIA/B NSCLC without anemia at baseline [hemoglobin (Hgb) <12 g/dL for women or <13 g/dL for men], either nonsmokers or ex-smokers, who received C-CRT between 2007 and 2012. All patients had received 1-3 cycles of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy during radiotherapy to 60-66 Gy and had documented Hgb measurements before treatment and at weekly intervals for 6 weeks during the C-CRT. Potential associations were assessed between baseline, nadir, extent of change in Hgb level, and anemia and overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), and PFS.

The median baseline Hgb level was 13.9 g/dL (range 12.0-16.8) and declined to a median 12.4 g/dL (range 7.9-16.1) during treatment. Anemia appeared in 237 patients (32.8%) and was more common among women (44.8% vs. 26.5%, P < 0.001). Neither baseline Hgb level nor change during treatment nor anemia emergence influenced any survival endpoint. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed an Hgb nadir of 11.1 g/dL to be associated with outcomes, in that a nadir Hgb <11.1 g/dL (in 156 patients) was linked with shorter median OS time (P < 0.001), LRPFS time (P < 0.001), and PFS time (P < 0.001); retained significance for all three endpoints in multivariate analyses; and was more strongly associated with OS in squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.001) than in adenocarcinoma (P = 0.009).

Nadir Hgb <11.1 g/dL levels during C-CRT were associated with significantly poorer survival times in initially non-anemic patients presenting with locally advanced NSCLC.