Impact of Stage-Specific Guideline Concordant Treatment in Small Cell Lung Cancer in Victoria, Australia

Lung cancer accounts for 9% of all cancer diagnoses in Australia with a 5-year survival rate of 26%. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a more aggressive subtype of lung cancer, representing 15% of all lung cancer cases and a 5-year survival of 11.1%. This study aims to assess the extent of guideline concordant treatment (GCT) delivery for SCLC in Victoria, identify patient, clinical, and hospital factors influencing GCT receipt, and evaluate its impact on survival.

Data were obtained from the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry (VLCR) in Victoria, Australia (n = 1769). Descriptive statistics were used to summarie patient and disease characteristics by treatment type, including GCT, non-GCT, and no/declined treatment. Statistical analyses included multiple logistic regression, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates.

78.1% received GCT, 10.5% received non-GCT, and 11.5% had no treatment. Older age, poor performance status, and advanced cancer stage were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving GCT. Patients who received stage-specific GCT had a 60% lower mortality risk compared to those who received non-GCT treatment.

This study highlights significant variation in the receipt of guideline concordant treatment for SCLC, with older age, poorer performance status, and advanced cancer stage reducing the likelihood of GCT. Given the survival benefits associated with GCT, addressing barriers to its delivery is essential to improving outcomes for SCLC patients in Victoria.