Evaluation of factors associated with platinum-sensitivity status and survival in limited-stage small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy

// Qiang Wen 1, 2 , Xue Meng 1, 2 , Peng Xie 1, 2 , Shijiang Wang 1, 2 , Xindong Sun 1, 2 and Jinming Yu 1, 2 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250117, China 2 Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China Correspondence to: Jinming Yu, email: sdyujinming@163.com Keywords: small cell lung cancer, refractory, platinum-sensitivity status, survival, chemoradiotherapy Received: January 04, 2017      Accepted: June 27, 2017      Published: July 07, 2017 ABSTRACT In this retrospective study, we analyzed the association of clinicopathological factors and therapeutic plans with platinum-sensitivity status and survival of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients. We enrolled 452 LS-SCLC patients with 279 platinum sensitive and 173 platinum refractory patients. The low serum neuro-specific enolase levels (NSE; p = 0.011), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR; p = 0.013) and higher objective response rates ( p = 0.003) were associated with sensitive group but not the refractory group. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment modality (HR = 0.267, p < 0.001), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; HR = 1.894, p = 0.016), NLR (HR = 2.043, p = 0.043) and platinum-sensitivity status (HR = 0.561, p = 0.036) were independent prognostic factors for survival. We further showed that the numbers of chemotherapy cycles and response to first-line therapy were independent prognostic factors for refractory patients only. Our study demonstrates that platinum-sensitivity status is of prognostic importance, as it is strongly associated with survival in LS-SCLC patients.