1. Prognosis of younger patients in non-small cell lung cancer

2. Purpose
This study is to compare clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients between <50 years and >50 years of age at surgery.

3. Methods
Retrospective review of 2,618 patients with NSCLC who underwent curative intent surgical resection from 2003 to 2015 was obtained from prospectively collected lung cancer database.
There were 274 patients (10%) of <50 years old at time of surgery and 2,344 of >50 years.
Data regarding demographics, presenting symptoms, histology, tumor staging, treatment modalities (neo, surgical extent, adjuvant therapy), and recurrence, survival were evaluated.

4. Results Overall survival
Time at risk Death
Incident rate n (%)
(95%CI)
median time (month)
Log-rank test
Death
669(2.66)
30.37
0.001
Age < 50
45(2.51)
34.57
Age > 50
624(2.67)
30.30

5. Overall survival in each stage
Stage 1 n=1,474 P <0.001
Stage 2 n=464 P=0.098
Stage3 n=437 P=0.121
Log rank test
 Age <50
 Age >50
Stage 4 n=114 P=0.855

6. Conclusion
The younger patients (<50 years of age at surgery) were more female, never smoker, and adenocarcinoma. Even though there was no difference in treatment modalities, younger patients had significantly better prognosis in pathologic stage I NSCLC.