Grant: Operating Grant

In 2004 several clinical trials demonstrated that chemotherapy given after surgery for lung cancer (i.e. adjuvant chemotherapy) improves the cure rates of this disease. The purpose of this study is to find out if chemotherapy is now being appropriately used and if patients in the general population are getting the full benefits of treatment. We will also evaluate the financial costs of this treatment. Our research centre has a unique database which includes information about diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of all patients with lung cancer in Ontario. By comparing treatment and outcome of patients with lung cancer before and after 2004 (i.e. 2001-2003 vs. 2005-2007) we will use this information to answer the following questions: 1) Are patients receiving chemotherapy after surgery? 2) Are patients in different regions of Ontario receiving different forms of therapy? 3) Have patient outcomes improved and do patients appear to benefit from chemotherapy? and 4) Is this treatment cost effective? We hope to provide information about whether doctors are following established guidelines for the management of this disease, and whether the survival benefit of chemotherapy established in clinical trials is being realized in the general population.