Characteristics of Lung Cancer in Patients Younger than 40 Years: A Prospective Multicenter Analysis in France

• Published in: Oncology Vol. 95; no. 6; p. 337
• Main Authors: Bigay-Gamé, Laurence, Bota, Suzanna, Greillier, Laurent, Monnet, Isabelle, Madroszyk, Anne, Corre, Romain, Mastroianni, Bénédicte, Falchero, Lionel, Mazières, Julien, Colineaux, Hélène, Lepage, Benoit, Chouaid, Christos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Cohort Studies; Educational Status; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; France - epidemiology; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Prospective Studies; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Smoking - epidemiology; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; France; Drug abuse; Young patients; Mutational status; Survival; Lung cancer
• ISSN: 1423-0232
• DOI: 10.1159/000489784

The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and clinico-pathological characteristics of lung cancer in patients younger than 40 years. This was a prospective study performed within the Groupe Français de Pneumo-Cancérologie. Consecutive patients diagnosed with lung cancer before the age of 40 years were eligible. Data on demographics, medical history, clinico-pathological characteristics, treatment and overall survival were analysed. In total, 146 patients were included from January 2011 to December 2013. Median age was 38 years (IQR: 34-40). Women accounted for 41%. Main histological type was adenocarcinoma (77%). Only 3% had a prior history of cancer, but a family history (first- or second-degree relatives) of cancer was reported in 80 (55%) patients; 85 and 50% were current or past smokers of tobacco and cannabis, respectively; 82% had stage IIIB/IV at diagnosis. Median overall survival was 15.3 (95% CI: 8.1-24.0) months in the whole population, 10.3 (95% CI: 12.5-14.2) months in stage IV and 15 (95% CI: 8.7-35.2) months in stage III. One- and two-year overall survival rates were 57% (95 CI: 49-65) and 31.5% (95 CI: 27-43), respectively. Compared to smokers, non-smokers were significantly younger and more often females. Median overall survival was not statistically different between smokers and non-smokers.