Long-term survival outcome after postoperative recurrence of non-small-cell lung cancer: who is ‘cured’ from postoperative recurrence?

Abstract

Two-thirds of 5-year survivors after postoperative NSCLC recurrence had a cancer-bearing status and showed deteriorated subsequent survival. Curability of postoperative NSCLC recurrence should be evaluated in terms of the 'cancer-controlled' status, and 'cured' population is included in the patients who are 'cancer controlled' at the fifth post-recurrent year.