Background Management of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is affected by regional specificities. The present study aimed at determining diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including outcome of patients with NSCLC stage III in the real-world setting in Central European countries to define areas for improvements. Patients and methods This multicentre, prospective and non-interventional study collected data of patients with NSCLC stage III in a web-based registry and analysed them centrally. Results Between March 2014 and March 2017, patients (n=583) with the following characteristics were entered: 32% females, 7% never-smokers; ECOG performance status (PS) 0, 1, 2 and 3 in 25%, 58%, 12% and 5%, respectively; 21% prior weight loss; 53% squamous carcinoma, 38% adenocarcinoma; 10% EGFR mutations. Staging procedures included chest X-ray (97% of patients), chest CT (96%), PET-CT (27%), brain imaging (20%), bronchoscopy (89%), endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) (13%) and CT-guided biopsy (9%). Stages IIIA/IIIB were diagnosed in 55%/45% of patients, respectively. N2/N3 nodes were diagnosed in 60%/23% and pathologically confirmed in 29% of patients. Most patients (56%) were treated by combined modalities. Surgery plus chemotherapy was administered to 20%, definitive chemoradiotherapy to 34%, chemotherapy only to 26%, radiotherapy only to 12% and best supportive care (BSC) to 5% of patients. Median survival and progression-free survival times were 16.8 (15.3;18.5) and 11.2 (10.2;12.2) months, respectively. Stage IIIA, female gender, no weight loss, pathological mediastinal lymph node verification, surgery and combined modality therapy were associated with longer survival. Conclusions The real-world study demonstrated a broad heterogeneity in the management o f stage III NSCLC in Central European countries and suggested to increase the rates of PET-CT imaging, brain imaging and invasive mediastinal staging.

• Klíčová slova
• diagnostic procedures, multimodality treatment, non-small-cell lung cancer, stage III,
• MeSH
• adenokarcinom patologie   terapie   MeSH
• bronchoskopie statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• doba přežití bez progrese choroby MeSH
• endosonografie statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• geny erbB-1 MeSH
• kombinovaná terapie metody   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• nádory plic diagnóza   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• nekuřáci statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• nemalobuněčný karcinom plic diagnóza   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• PET/CT MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spinocelulární karcinom patologie   terapie   MeSH
• staging nádorů MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• ultrazvukem navigovaná biopsie statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

BACKGROUND: The introduction of targeted treatments for subsets of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has highlighted the importance of accurate molecular diagnosis to determine if an actionable genetic alteration is present. Few data are available for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) on mutation rates, testing rates, and compliance with testing guidelines. METHODS: A questionnaire about molecular testing and NSCLC management was distributed to relevant specialists in nine CEE countries, and pathologists were asked to provide the results of EGFR and ALK testing over a 1-year period. RESULTS: A very high proportion of lung cancer cases are confirmed histologically/cytologically (75-100%), and molecular testing of NSCLC samples has been established in all evaluated CEE countries in 2014. Most countries follow national or international guidelines on which patients to test for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements. In most centers at that time, testing was undertaken on request of the clinician rather than on the preferred reflex basis. Immunohistochemistry, followed by fluorescent in situ hybridization confirmation of positive cases, has been widely adopted for ALK testing in the region. Limited reimbursement is a significant barrier to molecular testing in the region and a disincentive to reflex testing. Multidisciplinary tumor boards are established in most of the countries and centers, with 75-100% of cases being discussed at a multidisciplinary tumor board at specialized centers. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular testing is established throughout the CEE region, but improved and unbiased reimbursement remains a major challenge for the future. Increasing the number of patients reviewed by multidisciplinary boards outside of major centers and access to targeted therapy based on the result of molecular testing are other major challenges.

• Klíčová slova
• ALK rearrangements, Central eastern European region, EGFR mutations, Molecular testing, Non-small cell lung cancer,
• MeSH
• genetické testování metody   MeSH
• genová přestavba * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace * MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery genetika   MeSH
• nádory plic diagnóza   epidemiologie   genetika   MeSH
• nemalobuněčný karcinom plic diagnóza   epidemiologie   genetika   MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nádorové biomarkery MeSH