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Critical timing: Impact of delays to surgery on prognosis in stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer

  • 0Department of Thoracic Surgery, iangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China.
Plos One +

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May 28, 2025

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May 28, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, surgery within 6 weeks of diagnosis improves survival. Delays beyond this critical time point, especially for older males, are linked to poorer outcomes and influenced by social factors.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Public Health

Background

  • Surgical timing is crucial for lung cancer patient prognosis.
  • Identifying critical delays in surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can optimize patient outcomes.
  • Early surgical intervention is key for improving survival rates in lung cancer.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To determine the critical time point for surgery in stage I-II NSCLC that impacts patient survival.
  • To identify prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients.
  • To investigate factors contributing to delays in surgical treatment for NSCLC.

Main Methods

  • Analysis of 55,582 adult patients with stage I-II NSCLC from the SEER database.
  • Utilized univariate and multivariate Cox regression to identify prognostic factors and critical time points for surgery.
  • Employed Kaplan-Meier curves, subgroup analyses, and multinomial logistic regression to assess the impact of surgical timing and associated factors on OS.

Main Results

  • Time to surgery (TTS) is an independent prognostic factor for OS in stage I-II NSCLC.
  • Surgery performed after 6 weeks from diagnosis was significantly associated with poorer OS (HR: 1.22).
  • Older age (≥75 years) and male sex were identified as risk factors for delayed TTS, with increased mortality risks.

Conclusions

  • Undergoing surgery within 6 weeks of diagnosis significantly improves survival rates for stage I-II NSCLC patients.
  • Surgical delays beyond 6 weeks are linked to decreased overall survival.
  • Social factors, including age, sex, race, and marital status, are associated with delays in receiving timely surgical care.