Poor survival of non-small-cell lung cancer patients with main bronchus tumor: a large population-based study

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the association between tumor location and prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Patients & methods: The SEER database was used to screen for suitable patients using our inclusion criteria. The χ² test was used to compare baseline patient characteristics and the Kaplan-Meier method as well as the log-rank test were used to compare survival differences. At last, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the influence of different variables on overall survival. Results: The results found no significant difference in overall survival between patients in laterality (p = 0.071). However, patients with main bronchial tumors had worse prognosis than tumors at other locations (p < 0.001). Our results also showed that tumor location including main bronchus, upper lobe, middle lobe, lower lobe and overlapping lesion was a significant factor affecting survival (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that regardless of histology or M stage, patients with main bronchial tumors had a worse survival compared with other tumor locations (all; p < 0.001). Interestingly, we found that patients with tumor main bronchial tumors were more likely to be squamous carcinoma and terminal Tumor, Node, Metastasis stage (all; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Non-small-cell lung cancer patients' prognosis was related to the tumor location. And patients with tumors located in main bronchus had worse outcomes than those located in other locations. Tumor primary site should be considered in treatment management and prognosis assessment.