Changes in non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis, molecular testing and prognosis 2011-2016

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of death all over the world. Diagnostic and therapeutic arsenals have improved in recent years, but we are unsure as to whether these advances have been transferred to clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in NSCLC diagnostic processes and short-term survival rates between two recent cohorts.

A prospective, observational study was conducted with patients diagnosed with NSCLC in the period of 2011-2016. Patients were divided into two cohorts (2011-2013 and 2014-2016), and monitored for up to 1 year after diagnosis.

A total of 713 patients with lung cancer were selected, 500 of whom had NSCLC (222 patients in the 2011-2013 cohort, and 278 in the 2014-2016 cohort). We observed a chronological increase in the use of endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and ultrasound-guided transthoracic puncture (US-TTP) between the cohorts. Overall short-term survival was similar between the two groups, both for locally and for advanced disease. Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) was the only therapeutic factor associated with an improved likelihood of survival.

Changes in diagnostic process in NSCLC have been observed towards a more precise stratification. Although short-term survival has not changed for advanced NSCLC, some of the newer therapeutic options are associated with increased survival in real-world scenarios.