Real-World Data on Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Vietnam
Khanh Toan Nguyen1, Thi Huong Pham1,2, Van Lam Ngo1
1Department of Medical Oncology 2, Nghe An Oncology Hospital, Vinh City, 43000, Vietnam.
Oncology Research
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Vietnam showed varied treatment patterns. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is standard, but surgery offers superior survival in selected cases, highlighting histology and stage as key prognostic factors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents a complex clinical challenge due to disease heterogeneity.
- Multifaceted treatment strategies are often necessary for effective management of stage III NSCLC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze demographic characteristics, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes for stage III NSCLC patients in Vietnam.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing survival in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive study of 731 stage III NSCLC patients (AJCC 8th edition) from January 2018 to August 2024.
- Kaplan-Meier analysis for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS); log-rank test for comparisons.
- Cox regression analysis to assess prognostic variables.
Main Results:
- The study included patients with a median age of 64, predominantly male (84%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common subtype (60.7%).
- Treatment trends shifted towards concurrent chemoradiotherapy (from 38.6% to 51.5%) and away from systemic therapy (from 88.5% to 21.7%).
- Median PFS was 8.9 months and median OS was 20.5 months. Stage IIIA, adenocarcinoma histology, driver mutations, and good performance status were favorable prognostic factors. Surgery yielded the longest survival (mPFS: 13.5 months; mOS: 42.8 months).
Conclusions:
- Concurrent chemoradiotherapy remains a standard treatment for stage III NSCLC.
- Surgery can offer significant survival benefits in carefully selected patients.
- Histology, molecular profile, and disease stage are critical prognostic indicators for stage III NSCLC.
