Contribution of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma after surgical resection

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival in early stage lung adenocarcinoma. Method: In our clinic, 413 patients with adenocarcinoma and 586 patients with squamous cell lung cancer were operated between 2005-2014. After neoadjuvan therapy and N1-N2 patients were excluded, 180 stage I adenocarcinoma (TIa, TIb, T2a NOMO) and 239 stage I squamous cell carcinoma (TIa, TIb, T2a NOMO) were included in the study and analyzed retrospectively. Along adjuvant chemotherapy; patients who received chemotherapy for any other reasons (local relapse, metastases) are also included. This contributed 15% and 16% of all adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma respectively. Results: 153 stage I adenocarcinoma patients didn9t receive adjuvant or any chemotherapy and median survival were found 1.855,2±100,29 days. 27 stage I adenocarcinoma patients received chemotherapy and median survival were found 1.386,6±209,64 days. There was no statistical significance in survival between two groups (p=0.047). 200 stage I squamous cell carcinoma patients didn9t receive chemotherapy and median survival were found 2.303,6±116,39 days. 39 stage I squamous cell carcinoma patients received chemotherapy and median survival were found 1582,4± days. There was statistical significance in survival between two groups (p=0.047). Conclusion: Although early; when compared with squamous cell carcinoma we can say that in the early stage adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy prolongs survival. Because of the tendency of early relapse and metastases adjuvant chemotherapy should take place in the early stage adenocarcinoma treatment algorithm.