Negative Impact of Coexisting Interstitial Lung Disease on Clinical Outcomes in Small-cell Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background/aim: The impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on the clinical outcome of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of ILD on treatment and survival outcomes of SCLC patients.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical outcomes of SCLC patients, treated with chemotherapy, with or without ILD ([ILD group (n=16) and non-ILD group (n=51)].

Results: Median PFS and OS were significantly shorter in the ILD group than in the non-ILD group (median PFS, 184 vs. 290 days, p=0.008; median OS, 236 vs. 691 days, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that coexisting ILD was an independent predictive factor of PFS (hazard ratio [HR]=2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01-4.18; p=0.046) and OS (HR=3.29; 95%CI=1.53-7.08; p=0.002).

Conclusion: Coexisting ILD might be a negative predictive factor of PFS and OS of SCLC patients treated with chemotherapy.

Keywords: Small-cell lung cancer; acute exacerbation; chemotherapy; interstitial lung disease.