Overall survival for early and locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer from one institution: 2000-2017

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Spain. The objective of our study was to evaluate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with stages I-III non-small-cell lung cancer, as well as the impact that epidemiological changes, diagnostic improvements and surgical therapeutic innovations have had on survival in the past 20 years.

Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with early and locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer between years 2000 and 2017 in our institution.

A total of 859 patients were included. An increase in the percentage of women diagnosed over time was observed. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean age at diagnosis, with a progressive increase in the different periods. The percentage of current or former smokers was similar in all periods. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histologic type with a progressive increase in its frequency. The percentage of patients diagnosed in early stages has been increasing over the years. In stages I-II, there was a significant increase in the median survival (29.7 months: 2000-2004, 68.73 months: 2010-2014) that could be seen in stage III as well (14.7 months: 2000-2004, 30.63 months: 2015-2017).

A variation of clinical characteristics of lung cancer in Spain has been observed in recent years, as well as an improvement in survival in early and locally advanced stages, due not only to the treatments, but also to a more accurate detection of these tumors. Little progress has been made in tobacco habit with high stable percentages over the years.