BACKGROUNDThere are many factors that affect the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to analyze the influential factors and prognosis in patients with NSCLC following operation.

METHODSFrom January 1996 to January 2003, 1380 patients with NSCLC treated surgically were retrospectively studied. The correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTSIn the whole group, 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 78.85%, 49.78% and 38.96% respectively, and median survival time (MST) was 38.77 months. According to univariate analysis, tumor size, pathologic type, clinical type (central or peripheral), TNM stages, lymph node involvement, surgical procedure, postoperative chemotherapy, and cycles of chemotherapy were significantly related to the survival of patients. By multivariate analysis, tumor size, TNM stages, lymph node status and postoperative chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSTumor size, TNM stages, lymph node involvement and postoperative chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors for NSCLC following the surgical procedure.