Comparing surgery alone and surgery plus chemotherapy for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer

This analysis was carried out to assess the outcomes of patients who underwent surgery only or surgery and chemotherapy (CT) for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). The authors found that surgery plus CT resulted in better outcomes compared to surgery alone. 

SCLC is an aggressive type of lung cancer that accounts for around 15% of lung cancer diagnoses. It usually results in rapid growth and spread from a tumor. LS-SCLC is cancer in only one lung. It can be treated with surgery to remove the tumor. However, some patients also need CT to make sure the cancer is gone. However, the outcomes of patients who receive surgery alone compared to those who also receive CT are still unknown. 

There were 477 patients with LS-SCLC in this trial. 215 patients received surgery alone and 262 patients received surgery plus CT. 

The average overall survival (OS) of patients in the surgery and CT group was significantly higher (35 months) compared to the surgery alone group (23 months). 

The authors concluded that surgery plus CT was associated with a longer survival compared to surgery alone in patients with LS-SCLC. 

This study was based on medical records. Some information might have been incomplete. This may have influenced the results.