OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical treatment modality and prognosis of small cell lung cancer(SCLC).

METHODWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 77 SCLC patients who were admitted to our department after 2002.

RESULTSThe disease was limited in 43 patients and extensive in 34 patients. For patients with limited SCLC, the 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year survival rate was 80%, 56%, and 21%, respectively. Four patients who had undergone surgical resection were all alive. Among patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, salvage chemotherapy, and salvage chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, the median of survival period was 51 months, 12 months, and 28 months, respectively. For patients with extensive SCLC, the 1-year and 2-year survival rate was 56% and 25%, respectively. The median of survival period was 14.3 months. Stage was an independent factor in multifactor COX regression. Monofactor COX regression showed that radiotherapy and resection were factors correlated with survival. Brain metastasis had no impact on survival.

CONCLUSIONSChemotherapy followed by radiotherapy is preferred for limited SCLC, while surgical resection remains questionable for early-stage patients. For extensive SCLC, multi-line chemotherapy may be helpful to improve the overall survival. Stage is an independent factor for predicting the prognosis.