exudates and Carcinoma--Small-Cell

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) disseminates early and has poor prognosis. However, SCLC is highly chemosensitive, thus chemotherapy has been established as the primary mode of treatment. Seventeen patients (15 males and 2 females) with median age of 60 years (range 49 to 74 years) were treated with combination cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, adriamycin 40 mg/m2, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 on day 1 and etoposide (VP 16) 75 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3 (CAVE). This combination was given in 6 courses at 3 weekly intervals. The response to the chemotherapy and the quality of life of patients was assessed at the third cycle and after the completion of therapy (sixth cycle). The overall response rate was 76.4%; 52.9% achieved complete response and 23.5% had partial response. The survival rate at 6 months was 70.8% and 4 patients (23.5%) were still alive after 1 year of chemotherapy. The median survival after therapy was 36 weeks. There was a 30% overall improvement in the Karnofsky performance score at the completion of chemotherapy. This study illustrated that the CAVE regimen is effective and beneficial in the majority of our patients with small cell lung cancer.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cisplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life

A comparison of patients with lung cancer diagnosed at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 1991 to September 1999 with another group of lung cancer patients diagnosed at the same hospital during an earlier period of 1967-1976 was undertaken to determine whether there had been a change in the distribution of lung cancer cell types and patient demography. The number of histologically and/or cytologically proven lung cancer cases was 583 from October 1991 to September 1999 and 278 from 1967 to 1976. The mean (S.D.) age of the patients during the period 1991-1999, 60.1 (12.0) years was similar to that of patients during the period 1967-1976, 60.3 (12.2) years. There was no shift of the peak age distribution of lung cancer (i.e., the 7th decade) between the two periods. In the recent period, the percentage of patients with adenocarcinoma had increased significantly to 43.2% from 25.2% while that of large cell carcinoma had decreased to 3.3% from 11.9%. The percentages of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and small cell lung cancer remained stable. In the period 1967-1976, SCC was the commonest cell type in men and in smokers while adenocarcinoma was the commonest cell type in women and in never smokers. In the period 1991-1999, adenocarcinoma was the commonest cell type in both men and women as well as in smokers and never smokers.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Large Cell; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Demography; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Hospitals, University; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Smoking

This study aimed to determine whether the clinicopathological features of lung cancer in patients younger than 40 years differ from that of older patients in an Asian country.. We undertook a review of the clinicopathological data of all patients with confirmed primary lung cancer at the Department of Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 1991 to September 1999.. Of the 580 patients with lung cancer, 36 (6.2%; 23 males, 13 females) were 21-39 years old at diagnosis. The percentage of people who had never smoked was higher among the younger patients (58.3% vs 19.1%, P < 0.001). Although adenocarcinoma was the most common cell type in both groups, its incidence was higher in the younger patients (24/36 (66.7%) vs 228/544 (41.9%), P = 0.007). The mean World Health Organization performance status at presentation was worse in the younger patients (2.4 vs 2, P = 0.007). In the case of non-small cell lung cancer, all the younger patients presented with either stage IIIb or metastatic disease compared to 77.2% of the older patients (P < 0.001).. Younger lung cancer patients were more likely than older patients to have never smoked, to have adenocarcinoma, and to present with poorer performance status and with more advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Large Cell; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Population Surveillance; Prospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Smoking

A review of 119 patients (88 males and 31 females) with carcinoma of the lung seen at the Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM) from 1984 to 1989 was done. The mean age of the patients was 60.3 years with a high proportion (76.6%) of them were between 41 and 70 years. Seventy five percent of patients (84% of men and 26% of women) were smokers. The Chinese have a significantly higher preponderance to carcinoma of the lung. The commonest histological type found was squamous cell carcinoma in men and adenocarcinoma in women. Small cell carcinoma was uncommon. Squamous cell and large cell/undifferentiated type of carcinoma were significantly associated with smoking behaviour of the patients.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Smoking

Between 1967 and 1976, 388 cases of lung cancer were seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, with histological confirmation in 72%. Most were aged from 50--80, with a male to female ratio of 2.8 : 1. The patients were predominantly of Chinese origin (82%) and from the lower socioeconomic strata. A history of smoking was elicited in 78%. The chief clinical and radiological features and the diagnostic methods are presented. The incidence of the histological types was squamous carcinoma 34%, adenocarcinoma 25%, large cell carcinoma 12%, small (oat) cell carcinoma 12%, "unidifferentiated/anaplastic" 15%, and others 2%. Malays appeared to have a higher percentage of adenocarcinoma. A comparison between the histologically confirmed group and the rest showed no significant difference in features. Problems pertaining to the management of Malaysian patients are discussed.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged