Indoor radon exposure and living conditions in patients with advanced lung cancer in Lublin region, Poland.

OBJECTIVE: Radon (Rn-222) is a noble gas formed in the uranium path (U-238) as a decay product of radium (Ra-226). It is estimated to cause between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers, depending on the national average radon level and smoking prevalence. Radon molecules emit alpha radiation, which is characterized by low permeability through tissues, but due to its remarkably high energy, it has a high potential for DNA damage. The aim of our research was to assess the radon concentration inside the houses of patients with advanced lung cancer and to analyze their socio-economics status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The measurements of radon concentration were performed in 102 patients with stage 3B or higher lung cancer in the region of Lublin, Poland. One month of radon exposure measurement was performed with alpha-track detectors. In addition, patients filled in a detailed survey about factors that might influence the concentration of radon inside their houses. RESULTS: The average concentration of radon during the exposure of the detector in the residential premises of the respondents was at the level of 69.0 Bq/m3 [37.0-117.0]. A few significant correlations were discovered, e.g., higher levels of radon in countryside houses or in houses equipped with air conditioning. CONCLUSIONS: As radon exposure is a modifiable risk factor for lung cancer, it is extremely important to find factors that may reduce its concentration in dwelling places. Since our research was performed in houses of people with lung cancer, taking corrective actions based on our findings could prevent new lung cancer incidence in patients' flatmates.

A single-institution retrospective analysis of the differences between 7th and 8th edition of the UICC TNM staging system in patients with advanced lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) classification of Union for International Cancer Control is a system describing the anatomical extent of the solid tumors that leads to staging and decision on the type of treatment. The latter TNM system (2017) as compared to the previous version (2010) has brought numerous changes. Our aim was to examine whether significant changes in the new TNM edition have altered the components of the TNM classification in patients and the stage of the disease to which they are ascribed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study is retrospective and is based on radiological examination reports and case reports of 100 patients of the Department of Pneumonology, Allergology and Oncology of the Medical University in Lublin, Poland. One hundred randomly selected patients, who were hospitalized at the Clinic between 2013 and 2018 with primary lung cancer were enrolled in the study. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and an appropriate post-hoc test were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: It was calculated that the T descriptor evaluated as per TNM in revision 8th in comparison to revision 7th changed in 41% of patients, the M descriptor - in 29% of patients, which resulted in change in staging in 11 patients. In spite of this scale amendments, only three patients could be treated differently because of the change in the stage of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the treatment method, including withdrawal from surgery, can help avoid unnecessary treatment, but on the other hand, may potentially reduce the patient's chances of survival by depriving them of the possibility of radical treatment.