Late results of the combined treatment with the use of preoperative chemotherapy and surgery of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The aim of the study is the assessment of efficacy of combined treatment (preoperative chemotherapy and surgery) of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Material included sixty-two NSCLC patients treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Medical School of Lublin between February 1993 and October 1997. Treatment was started with 2 or 3 courses of chemotherapy. In 51 cases chemotherapy was based on Cisplatin. Response (CR + PR) to chemotherapy was observed in 30 cases (48.8%). 21-25 days after last course of chemotherapy resections were carried out. In 1 case it was lobectomy, in 25 cases--pneumonectomy and in 36--extended pneumonectomy. In 56 cases resection was radical, in 6 cases non-radical. No perioperative deaths or bronchial fistulas were observed. Median survival was 21.4 months and 5-years survival--35.25%. The results confirm the usefulness of preoperative chemotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC.