Surgical results for small cell lung cancer based on the new TNM staging system

Background. Operation with combined chemotherapy has been recently recommended for very early stage of small cell lung cancer without lymph node metastasis. Methods. A retrospective study was undertaken in 91 patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for small cell lung cancer according to the new international staging system. Results. The 5-year overall probability of survival was 37.1%. The 5-year survival rate was 100% for p-stage 0, 56.1% for p-stage IA, 30.0% for p-stage IB, 57.1% for p-stage IIA, and 42.9% for p-stage IIB. In the p-stage IA–IIB patients who underwent a complete resection, the 5-year survival rate of the patients treated by operation with chemotherapy was better than that of patients treated by operation alone. In addition, the 5-year survival rate of the patients who had four or more courses of chemotherapy was 80.0%. Conclusions. These results suggest that operation should be considered for p-stage IA–IIB patients and more than four courses of combined chemotherapy might be desirable in these resectable cases.