The changing patterns of non small cell lung carcinomas in the Philippines: a clinico-pathologic analysis

Aim/Background

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies globally but its clinico-pathologic profile differs among ethnicities, gender and geography. Adenocarcinoma is currently the most common histology of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) in many countries. In the Philippines however, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) subtype has been still more common among males.

Methods

We review archival diagnosed lung cancer cases over 2 seven- year periods (January 2001-December 2007) and (January 2008- December 2014) for their clinico-pathological profiles and analyzed the changing patterns.

Results

In the period 2001 -2007, 168 cases of NSCLC were identified. The mean age of male is 59.8 and 50.4 in females. Adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype (62.5%), followed by Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) (33.3%) and Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (LCNEC) (4.2%). SCC and Adenocarcinoma occur in male at 48.8% and 43.5% respectively while adenocarcinoma is most common in female at 82.2%. In the period 2008-2014, 242 cases of NSCLC were identified. The mean age of male is 73.5 and 53.4 for female. Adenocarcinoma is the most common (84.7%), followed by SCC (11.6%) and LCNEC (3.7%). Adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype in male at 84% and SCC drops to 12% while adenocarcinoma is still the most common in female at 91%.

Conclusions

Adenocarcinoma is now the predominant and increasing histologic subtype of NSCLC for both genders in the Philippines reflecting the global trend.

Clinical trial identification

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.