MULTIMODALITY THERAPY INCLUDING SURGICAL RESECTION FOR LIMITED SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

1975 through 1990, 199 patients with limited small cell lung cancer (L SCLC) were subjected to multimodality treatment including surgical res ection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in our departme nt. The median postoperative survival time of the 199 patients was 39 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 26%, which was decreased with increase of tumor-stage. In comparison of the survival time of patien ts in Stage I and those in Stage IIIa, there was a significant differe nce (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in survival rate o f 3 and 5 years between the patients receiving chemotherapy prior to o r after surgical resection. The improvement in survival was documented by surgical resection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for LSCLC. The effect of multimodality treatment is correlated with t umor P-TNM staging, the involvement of lymph node, especially that of the mediastinal lymph node, is a negative factor influencing the progn osis. Surgical resection as an initial management, followed by chemoth erapy or chemoradiotherapy may be indicated in LSCLC patients of Stage I, Stage II and some Stage IIIa as the cancer can be resected complet ely.