Abstract
Purpose
This study sought to design and validate a nomogram capable of predicting outcomes in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) based upon the timing of their radiotherapy treatment.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed data from 175 ES-SCLC patients with SCVS, comparing outcomes between those that underwent upfront thoracic radiotherapy (initial radiotherapy with simultaneous chemotherapy) and those that underwent consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (following 4–6 cycles of chemotherapy). Significant predictors of patient outcomes were identified using a Cox proportional hazard model and were used to construct our nomogram. This model was subsequently validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, concordance index (C-index) values, and a risk classification system in order to evaluate its discriminative and predictive accuracy.
Results
The overall survival (OS) of ES-SCLC patients with SVCS that underwent chemotherapy (CT), consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (cc-TRT), and upfront thoracic radiotherapy (cu-TRT) was 8.2, 11.7, and 14.9 months, respectively (p < 0.001), with respective progression-free survival (PFS) durations of 3.3, 5.0, and 7.3 months (p < 0.001). A multivariate regression analysis revealed age, gender, ECOG performance status, sites of tumor metastasis, and treatment approach to all be independent predictors of survival outcomes. A nomogram was therefore developed incorporating these factors. C‑index values upon internal and external validation of this nomogram were 0.7625 and 0.7959, respectively, and ROC and calibration curves revealed this model to be accurate and consistent.
Conclusions
We found that upfront thoracic radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy may be associated with a positive impact on outcomes in ES-SCLC patients with SVCS.
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This project was supported by a grant from Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Funding to Youling Gong (2018SZ0184).
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Youling Gong conceived and designed the study. Ting Mei, Weigang Xiu, Xuexi Yang, and Xiaoman Tian collected the data. Ting Mei and Youling Gong analyzed and interpreted the data and drafted the article. Yang Yu, Yong Xu, Lin Zhou, Xiaojuan Zhou, Yongmei Liu, Bingwen Zou, Jianxin Xue, Xiaoman Tian, Rui Ao, You Lu critically revised the paper. All of the authors approved the final submitted version.
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T. Mei, W. Xiu, X. Yang, X. Tian, Y. Yu, Y. Xu, L. Zhou, X. Zhou, Y. Liu, B. Zou, J. Xue, R. Ao, Y. Lu and Y. Gong declare that they have no competing interests.
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This work has been selected to be presented partly in digital poster form at the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer, 2020.
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Mei, T., Xiu, W., Yang, X. et al. Development and validation of a nomogram for assessing survival in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patients with superior vena cava syndrome referred for thoracic radiotherapy: a comparison of upfront vs. consolidative approaches. Strahlenther Onkol 197, 1072–1083 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-021-01783-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-021-01783-4