查看文章

The core strategy of American College of Chest Physicians lung cancer guidelines is identification of the earliest symptoms of lung cancer and the immediate initiation of diagnosis and treatment. In the absence of screening, most symptomatic lung cancer is discovered at advanced stages, with the goal of long‐term survival entirely dependent on effective treatment of stage III and IV lung cancer.

In a retrospective review, all patients diagnosed with stage IIIA, IIIB, and IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between the years 1986 and 2001 at City of Hope National Medical Center who survived 5 years or longer were analyzed to identify parameters that might predict long‐term survival.

Of 846 patients presenting with stage III or IV disease, 56 (6.6%) survived 5 years or longer. Sixteen patients died of primary tumor progression beyond 5 years. Two 5‐year survivors died of …