Abstract:

Background and purpose: The resection rate may be improved by pneumonectomy in late stage cases of lung cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy is one of the important treatment methods after lobectomy, however, whether the lung cancer patients may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy after pneumonectomy is still controversial currently. This study was to observe 5-year survival of the cases who had been performed adjuvant chemotherapy after pneumonectomy, and evaluate the efficacy of treatment. Methods: From Jan.1998 to Dec.2006, 67 patients underwent pneumonectomy for lung cancer in our hospital, they were divided into two groups, the adjuvant chemotherapy group received four cycles chemotherapy (n=30), while the another group did not receive chemotherapy after operation (n=37). Patients were followed up for 5-year survival rate, the short- and long-term treatment efficacy were analyzed by SAS 9.13. Pathological type, TNM stage, side of pneumonectomy and other factors which may influence the survival rate are included in subgroup analysis. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 79.76%, 53.58%, and 34.44% in adjuvant chemotherapy group, while 59.46%, 32.43% and 21.62% in group without adjuvant chemotherapy. The shortterm survival rate (3-year) was significantly higher in chemotherapy group than in control group (P<0.05), while the long-term survival rate had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Squamous carcinoma group, and Ⅲa group have the positive result in subgroup analysis. Conclusion: The adjuvant chemotherapy after pneumonectomy may improve short-term survival rate in lung cancer.

Key words: Pneumonectomy, Adjuvant chemotherapy, Lung cancer