Agnese Savini, Rossana Berardi, Paola Mazzanti, Miriam Caramanti, Matteo Santoni, Mariagrazia De Lisa, Francesca Morgese, Silvia Rinaldi, Mariangela Torniai, Ilaria Fiordoliva, Azzurra Onofri, Stefano Cascinu. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: clinical criteria for treatment strategy.

Abstract

Aim: Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of human cancer deaths worldwide, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most frequent histologic subtypes. The aim of our study was to analyze clinical factors potentially affecting the overall outcome of advanced lung SCC patients.Methods: A series of 72 consecutive patients with advanced SCC undergoing chemotherapy at our institution between January 2007 and July 2013 were eligible for our analysis.Results: By univariate analysis, a better overall survival (OS) was related to response to first-line chemotherapy: median OS were 19.7 vs. 7.17 months, respectively, for responders and nonresponders patients (P < 0.0001). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, gender, and surgery were other prognostic factors. No significant relationship between OS and smoking status, age, body mass index, or type of treatment was found. In the third-line setting, a better OS was associated with objective response to second-line treatment (P = 0.015).Conclusion: Our results suggest that differences in OS seem strictly associated with clinical response to previous treatments. These data should be considered in the therapeutic strategy and management of patients with SCC of the lung