The importance of pre-treatment haemoglobin level in inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy

Radiother Oncol. 2003 Jun;67(3):321-5. doi: 10.1016/s0167-8140(03)00057-4.

Abstract

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pre-treatment haemoglobin level among patients with inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treated with definitive radiotherapy with regard to loco-regional tumour control (LC) and overall survival (OS).

Material and methods: Patients (n=526) with previously untreated NSCLC, stages I-IIIb, WHO-performance status of 0-2 were eligible. All patients were treated with definitive external irradiation (60 Gy in 6 weeks).

Results: In the multivariate analysis, the pre-treatment haemoglobin level was an independent prognostic factor for both loco-regional control and the overall survival.

Conclusions: pre-treatment haemoglobin levels are strongly associated with loco-regional tumour control and the overall survival.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anemia / blood*
  • Anemia / complications
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / complications
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / radiotherapy*
  • Female
  • Hemoglobins / analysis*
  • Hemoglobins / deficiency
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / blood*
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Hemoglobins