Patients With Pancreatic And The Prognosis Of Lung Cancer...

Among patients with pancreatic (1), hepatocellular (2), or breast (3) cancers, comorbidity caused by diabetes mellitus (DM) contributes to diminished long-term survival. Yet, the influence of DM on the prognosis of lung cancer patients remains ambiguous. In lung cancer patients, two studies have shown that patients with DM survived longer than those without (4, 5). In one of these studies (4), the conclusion was based on a small number of patients with unclear diagnostic criteria for DM and inappropriate statistical analyses. In the other study (5), although a larger patient cohort was included, the proportion of lung cancer patients with DM was low (4.5%), and the definition of DM was ambiguous. Also, the survival was very short,†¦show more content†¦Lung cancer diagnosis for each patient was confirmed by pathology and/or cytology, as defined by the WHO classification, and classified according to the 2010 UICC TNM system (12). We reviewed patient records to evaluate the ind ications and outcomes. DM was defined by an FPG level ≠¥ 126 mg/dL, a non-FPG level ≠¥ 200 mg/dL, or an HbA1c level ≠¥ 6.5%. Patients currently taking or having taken medications for diabetes were also defined as having DM. The study cohort was divided into lung cancer patients with (DM group) or without DM (non-DM group). Statistical differences between the DM and non-DM groups were determined with the Mann-Whitney and chi-square test. Survival curves were assessed with the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test. Survival refers to the interval, in months, from the initiation of the first therapy or supportive care, until the date of death or the last follow-up. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to study the effects of clinico-pathological factors on survival (13). All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 10.1 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA), and a P-value of 70 years), PS (0-2 vs 3-4), pathology (NSCLC vs SCLC), clinical stage (stages IA-IIIB vs IV), and first-line therapy (standard therapy such as surgery, chemoradiotherapy, or chemotherapy vs supportive care only). However, significant differences