The value of lung function measurements for the assessment of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients.

A retrospective analysis of lung function changes in lung cancer patients (NSCLC and SCLC) receiving various chemotherapy regimens, showed--statistically non significant--improvements of some parameters in responders, especially FEV1 and VC (mean increase of 230 and 310 ml after three cycles of chemotherapy), while stable values were observed in non responders. The majority of patients suffered from a decline in diffusing capacity, irrespective of response. Although the specificity and sensitivity of this functional evaluation are too low to allow lung function parameters to replace more conventional staging procedures, improvement in lung function in responders might indicate that chemotherapy can improve quality of life.