Real-world outcomes in patients with unresected stage III non-small cell lung cancer

This study examined real-world clinical outcomes such as progression-free survival (PFS), time to metastasis (TTM), overall survival (OS), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with unresected stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated in the community setting. A retrospective review of medical records extracted from 10 US community oncology practices was conducted. Eligible patients were adults diagnosed with stage III NSCLC from 1/1/2011 to 3/1/2016 without evidence of surgical resection within 6 months after stage III NSCLC diagnosis (index date). PFS, OS, and TTM were assessed from the index date, and were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. HRQOL was assessed for a subset of patients using a patient-reported measure, the 86-item Patient Care Monitor (PCM). Linear mixed models (LMM) were used to assess the impact of patient characteristics and change in PCM scores associated with progression. Among the sample of 478 patients, median PFS (95% confidence interval) was 10 months (9-11), median OS was 20 months (17-22), and median TTM was 30 months (23-45). Most patients (58.2%) experienced disease progression, which the LMM showed to be associated with significant worsening of physical symptoms and psychological states (p<0.001). This study documented PFS and OS consistent with published literature. The majority of patients experienced disease progression, which was associated with worsening of HRQOL. These findings highlighted the need for better therapeutic options in patients with unresected stage III NSCLC with potential to improve patient outcomes and HRQOL.