The importance of pre-treatment haemoglobin level in inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy

Abstract

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pre-treatment haemoglobin level among patients with inoperable non-small cell lung carcinorna (NSCLC) treated with definitive radiotherapy with regard to loco-regional tumour control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Material and methods: Patients (n = 526) with previously untreated NSCLC, stages I-IIIb, WHO-performance status of 0-2 were eligible. All patients were treated with definitive external irradiation (60 Gy in 6 weeks). Results: In the niultivariate analysis, the pre-treatment haemoglobin level was an independent prognostic factor for both loco-regional control and the overall survival. Conclusions: pre-treatment haemoglobin levels are strongly associated with loco-regional tumour control and the overall survival. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved