Tumor measurements predict survival.

• Position: Lung Cancer - Brief article

For the two-thirds of lung cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, tumor size is not used to predict overall survival times. However, a study led by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, has shown that, even in advanced stages, total tumor size can have a major impact on survival.

"The traditional view is that once a cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs, tumor dimensions are unlikely to affect patient outcomes," explains David Gerber, assistant professor of internal medicine and lead author of the study. "However, the survival differences we found are not only statistically significant, but also clinically meaningful."

In the study, the average total tumor dimension was 7.5 centimeters, or roughly three inches. Patients with total tumor dimensions above this size lived an average of 9.5 months. Patients with total dimensions below 7.5 centimeters lived an average of 12.6 months.

"Ultimately, clinical researchers might...