2009 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging System (1)

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The latest (7th edition) version has been accepted by the UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) and the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) and was published earlier this year.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Staging System

• Based solely on anatomic extent of disease (clinical symptoms or molecular behavior of tumors not included)
• T = tumor; increasing T meaning larger tumor or invasive into more peripheral or central structures
• N = lymph node location (not number)
• M = metastasis
• Two methods of staging = clinical (c) and pathological (p); clinical staging includes all information available PRIOR to any treatment (including invasive staging technique); pathological staging include information AFTER a resection

Sources of Data for the 7th Edition

• 81,015 included cases from 45 sources in 20 countries
• Only NSCLC included
• Major determinant is the overall survival

Reference:

Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Tanoue LT. The new lung cancer staging system. Chest 2009;136:260-271.

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