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J.W. Welsh



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    MA 01 - SCLC: Research Perspectives (ID 650)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Mini Oral
    • Track: SCLC/Neuroendocrine Tumors
    • Presentations: 1
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      MA 01.10 - Outcome Based on Baseline Total Lymphocyte Count & Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio in Extensive Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer (ID 8570)

      11:00 - 12:30  |  Author(s): J.W. Welsh

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      The prognosis for patients with extensive stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is dismal. Immune suppression and systemic inflammation have been linked with outcomes for patients with a variety of malignancies, including lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of baseline immune suppression and systemic inflammation as assessed with hematologic markers such as total lymphocyte count (TLC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on overall survival (OS) in patients with ES-SCLC.

      Method:
      We retrospectively investigated 253 consecutive patients with pathologically and radiographically proven ES-SCLC treated at a single tertiary cancer center from 1998 through 2015. Potential correlations between initial complete blood counts & differential and other clinicopathologic characteristics were sought. Hematologic markers such as pretreatment TLC, NLR, platelet count, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and other clinical characteristics including age, sex, performance status, race, TNM stage (M1a vs. M1b), weight loss, smoking status, number of initial chemotherapy cycles (<4 vs. ≥4 cycles), thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) dose (<45 Gy vs. ≥45 Gy), and receipt of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) were evaluated for correlation with OS. Median values for each hematologic marker were used as cutoffs. Factors identified as important by univariate analysis were selected as covariates to construct a multivariate Cox model for OS.

      Result:
      Pretreatment TLC was below the lower limit of normal (i.e., <1.0×10[3]/µL) in 58 patients (23%). Median OS was 11.0 months for the entire cohort. Median OS time was significantly worse in patients with lower pretreatment TLC (TLC ≤1.5×10[3]/µL: 9.8 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.9‒10.7 vs. TLC >1.5×10[3]/µL: 11.6 months, 95% CI 9.3‒13.9) and higher pretreatment NLR (NLR >4.0: 9.3 months, 95% CI 8.8‒9.8 vs. NLR ≤4.0: 13.9 months, 95% CI 11.2‒16.6). Multivariate analysis identified lower pretreatment TLC (hazard ratio [HR] 0.735, 95% CI 0.561‒0.962, P=0.025) and elevated pretreatment NLR (HR 1.534, 95% CI 1.182‒1.991, P=0.001) as being independent predictors of inferior survival. Six other clinicopathologic factors (age >63 years, being male, performance status score ≥2, having <4 initial chemotherapy cycles, TRT <45 Gy, and no PCI) were also shown to be independent predictors of worse OS in multivariate analysis (P<0.05).

      Conclusion:
      Pretreatment TLC and NLR are useful prognostic markers for OS in patients with ES-SCLC. These findings have important implications for stratifying patients with ES-SCLC for various treatment approaches, possibly including immune modulation.

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    OA 08 - Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Translational (ID 667)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Oral
    • Track: SCLC/Neuroendocrine Tumors
    • Presentations: 1
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      OA 08.05 - Major Drivers of Chemotherapy and Radiation Utilization for Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in the United States (ID 8475)

      11:00 - 12:30  |  Author(s): J.W. Welsh

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15-30% of newly diagnosed lung cancers. Although chemotherapy and radiation play a vital role in the initial management of limited-stage SCLC, rates of combined modality utilization in the United States have not been comprehensively studied. As such, the National Cancer Database (NCDB) is a valuable resource to understand patterns of care for limited-stage SCLC, as it captures the majority of newly diagnosed thoracic malignancies in the United States.

      Method:
      All cases of IASLC defined limited-stage SCLC in the United States National Cancer Database (NCDB) were identified from 2004 to 2013. Rates of chemotherapy and radiation utilization were determined along with key factors associated with their use. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable analysis were used to determine factors independently associated with overall survival.

      Result:
      From 2004 to 2013, there were 70,247 cases with analyzable data in the NCDB that met IASLC criteria for limited-stage SCLC. Of these cases, 40% did not receive radiation and 20% received neither chemotherapy nor radiation. For the irradiated group, the mean radiation dose was 52.8 Gy with a 16.2 Gy interquartile range. On multivariable analysis, being uninsured (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.67-0.85, p < 0.001), Medicaid (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.87, p < 0.001), and Medicare (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82-0.91, p < 0.001) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of radiation delivery in comparison to private/managed care insurance (after adjusting for age, tumor stage, and co-morbidity score). The irradiated group had significantly better median survival than the non-radiated group (33 vs. 17 months, p < 0.001). Radiation (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.6-0.63, p < 0.001) and chemotherapy (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.54-0.57, p < 0.001) delivery were both independently associated with better survival on multivariable analysis. Adjusted analysis showed that non-academic programs (HR > 1, p < 0.001) and non-private/managed care insurance (HR > 1, p < 0.001) was independently associated with a survival detriment.

      Conclusion:
      This is the most comprehensive study currently available describing the utilization of combined modality therapy in the initial management of limited-stage SCLC in the United States. A remarkable number of patients received neither radiation nor chemotherapy as part of their initial oncologic treatment. Insurance status was a key determinant of radiation and chemotherapy delivery even after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. Our findings highlight substantial barriers to quality care delivery and challenges in accrual seen for cooperative group clinical trials for limited-stage SCLC.

      Only Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login, select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout. If you would like to become a member of IASLC, please click here.

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