Comparison of Prognostic Factors and Survival Among Black Patients and White Patients Treated With Irradiation for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Many studies have reported differences in cancer incidence and survival between populations of Blacks and Whites. A 45% higher death rate from lung cancer for Black men and a survival duration for Black patients with lung cancer that is generally shorter than that for White patients have also been reported. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether race affects known prognostic factors for non—small-cell lung cancer in Black versus White patients. This analysis attempts to determine which prognostic factors may contribute to the reported differences in disease outcome. Methods: We used data from 1565 patients with non—small-cell lung cancer treated in four randomized prospective trials conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). The data were pooled for a retrospective analysis of survival and prognostic factors by race. Results: Univariate analysis showed significant differences between Blacks and Whites with regard to sex, weight loss, histology, and RTOG T stage (P