Author of

• 12837

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  P3.22 - Poster Session 3 - Epidemiology, Etiology (ID 168)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Prevention & Epidemiology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/30/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 12843

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    P3.22-006 - Incidence and 5-year survival of lung cancer in Queensland, Australia: an epidemiological study. (ID 2570)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): E.S. Ahern
    • Abstract

    Background
    Lung cancer is the fourth most common invasive cancer in Australia and was the leading cause of cancer death for both males and females in 2007. Five-year relative survival for lung cancer in Australia, which compares the risk of death for that cancer with age- and sex- matched population controls and overestimates absolute survival, is 13%. Gender based disparities have been noted, with men having worse outcomes. In this study, we publish for the first time an analysis of long-term (5 year) survival for lung cancer in Queensland, a northern state of Australia, where cancer is a notifiable disease. Differential outcomes for different tumour histologies, age groups, sex and estimated socio-economic status are compared, across 25 years spanning 1982-2006.

    Methods
    Cancer incidence and survival data on all Queensland residents diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) between 1982 and 2009 were derived from the Oncology Analysis System, Queensland Cancer Control Analysis Team. Incidence and overall all-cause survival at five years from diagnosis were aggregated over four time periods to 2006 and stratified by histological subtype, age, gender, and estimated socioeconomic status derived from postcode information. Survival at 5 years from diagnosis was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates.

    Results
    The absolute incidence of lung cancer diagnoses in Queensland has increased between 1982 and 2009, from 820 cases per year (in the time period 1982-1990) to 1,632 cases per year (time period 2006-2009). The increased incidence of non-squamous NSCLC accounts for the majority of this and has increased significantly from 322/year to 1,083/year. Approximately one out of eight cases of lung cancer are SCLC. Five year survival for those diagnosed 2002-06 was 14% for all lung cancer, with a significantly worse outcome for SCLC (6%) compared with NSCLC (15%). Survival from squamous NSCLC was marginally better than non-squamous histologies (17% vs 15%). Significant discrepancies are seen in outcome related to gender (16% for women vs 13% for men) (p<0.05) and based on age (17% for those aged less than 65, and 13% for those 65 and older) (p<0.05). The outcomes are favourable compared with the five years 1982-86, where overall 5-year survival from lung cancer was 12% (4% for SCLC and 13% for NSCLC). No significant relationship was seen with outcome based on estimated socio-economic status across the entire time period, although this was not recorded for 34% of patients. For those classed as affluent or middle class, 5-year survival was 14% compared with 12% in disadvantaged areas.

    Conclusion
    Five year survival for lung cancer in Queensland, Australia compares favourably with national and international norms, and has increased over the last 25 years. There is a significantly worse outcome for men seen across all tumour subtypes, which has been noted in other tumour streams. Of note, there is no significant differential in survival based on socioeconomic status, where this could be estimated.