Journal List > J Lung Cancer > v.11(2) > 1050649

Kang, Park, Kim, Song, Na, Jeong, Yoon, Ahn, Choi, Choi, Lee, Seon, Kim, Kwon, Bom, Oh, Kim, and Kim: Never-Smoker Lung Cancer Is Increasing

Abstract

Purpose

Lung cancer has been the leading cause of death in South Korea since the year 2000. Adenocarcinoma became the most frequent type in the national survey of lung cancer since year 2005.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 5,456 cases with lung cancer from 2004 to 2012 in a community cancer center. The mean age was 69.9 years, and 78.9% was male.

Results

Adenocarcinoma (ADC, 40.8%) was the most frequent type, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SQC, 36.4%), small cell carcinoma (SCC, 14.8%) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not otherwise specified (8.1%). In male patients, SQC was the most frequent type (43.5%), while ADC showed highest incidence in females (72.6%). Anatomic stage at diagnosis in NSCLC was I (10.3%), II (5.8%), IIIA (15.7%), IIIB (19.2%), and IV (49.0%). In SCC, 41.7% was in limited stage and 58.3% was diagnosed in extensive stage. The proportion of never smoker has been increased from 19.1% in 2004~2008 to 25.4% in 2009~2012. Never-smokers are more likely to be female (68.2% vs. 4.0%, p<0.001), have ADC (69.9% vs. 31.3%, p<0.001), and manifest as stage IV disease (58.5% vs. 45.2%, p<0.001), compared to smokers. Among 1,908 cases whose initial treatment was recorded, 42.5% received chemotherapy, 25.7% received radiation treatment, 20.5% received surgery and the remaining 11.3% received supportive cares only or transferred to other health care facilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, proportion of lung cancer in never-smoker is increasing. As screening for smokers will miss this growing population, we need to discover biomarkers to find high risk population of lung cancer.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Proportion of lung cancer histologic types from year 2004 to 2012. ADC: adenocarcinoma, NSC: non-small cell carcinoma, not otherwise specified, SCC: small cell carcinoma, SQC: squamous cell carcinoma.
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Fig. 2
Proportion of stage (I, II, IIIA, IIIB, and IV) at diagnosis in squamous cell carcinoma (SQC; 8.9%, 7.3%, 22.8%, 28.0%, 33.0%) and adenocarcinoma (ADC; 12.3%, 4.5%, 10.5%, 11.2%, 61.5%; p<0.001).
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Fig. 3
Histologic type according to smoking history. ADC: adenocarcinoma, SQC: squamous cell carcinoma, NSC: non-small cell carcinoma, not otherwise specified, SCC: small cell carcinoma.
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Fig. 4
Proportion (%) of initial treatment modalities for 1908 cases with lung cancer. BSC: best supportive care.
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Table 1
Characteristics of 5,456 Patients with Lung Cancer
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SD: standard deviation, ADC: adenocarcinoma, SQC: squamous cell carcinoma, NSCLC-NOS: non-small cell lung cancer not otherwise specified, SCC: small cell carcinoma.

Table 2
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics according to Smoking History
jlc-11-89-i002

SD: standard deviation, ADC: adenocarcinoma, SQC: squamous cell carcinoma, NSCLC-NOS: non-small cell lung cancer not otherwise specified, SCC: small cell carcinoma.

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