Prognostic value of doubling time in lung cancer

The volume doubling time (DT) of 27 measurable primary pulmonary carcinomas was calculated. The prognostic value of the DT was analysed in relation to survival, age, initial size of the tumour, histology, duration of symptoms, and treatment. The survival was longest in slow-growing carcinomas. Small-cell carcinomas and other anaplastic carcinomas had the shortest DT. A close correlation was found between DT, survival, and Feinstein's symptom-staging.