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Original Articles
- Effect of Smoking Cessation Duration on Lung Cancer Incidence: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study in Korea
- Myeong Geun Choi, Min-Ho Kim, Hong Jin Kim, Eun Mi Chun
- Received October 10, 2025 Accepted February 25, 2026 Published online February 26, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2025.1099 [Accepted]
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Abstract
PDF - Purpose
While smoking cessation is known to reduce lung cancer risk, the extent to which smoking cessation duration mitigates lung cancer risk remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the association between smoking cessation duration and the reduction in lung cancer incidence using large-scale health insurance data from Korea.
Materials and Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we utilized the cohort from the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation. Approximately 50% of the adults aged ≥50 years who underwent health examinations in 2009–2013 were randomly sampled and followed using medical and health examination records. The participants were classified into three groups: never-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers, and the incidence rates of lung cancer were compared among these groups.
Results
We analyzed 165,512 individuals selected through propensity score matching (82,756 never-smokers, 41,378 former smokers, and 41,378 current smokers). Lung cancer risk significantly decreased after two years of smoking cessation (2–3 years after cessation: hazard ratio 0.760, p<0.001) but remained higher than that of never-smokers for up to 10 years. Subgroup analyses revealed similar tendencies among males, whereas no consistent patterns were observed among females. Moreover, a longer duration of smoking cessation was generally required for heavy smokers (≥20 pack-years) than for light smokers (<20 pack-years).
Conclusion
This nationwide cohort study highlights the significant impact of smoking cessation duration on lung cancer risk, emphasizing the substantial benefits of even short-term cessation regardless of prior smoking history.
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- 97 Download
- Lung and Thoracic cancer
- The Real-World Outcome of First Line Atezolizumab in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
- Myeong Geun Choi, Yeon Joo Kim, Jae Cheol Lee, Wonjun Ji, In-Jae Oh, Sung Yong Lee, Seong Hoon Yoon, Shin Yup Lee, Jeong Eun Lee, Eun Young Kim, Chang-Min Choi
- Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(2):422-429. Published online October 23, 2023
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2023.913
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Abstract
PDF
Supplementary Material
PubReader
ePub - Purpose
The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to chemotherapy has improved survival outcomes in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, their real-world effectiveness remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in ES-SCLC in actual clinical settings.
Materials and Methods
In this multicenter prospective cohort study, patients with ES-SCLC receiving or scheduled to receive atezolizumab in combination with etoposide and carboplatin were enrolled between June 2021 and August 2022. The primary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and the 1-year overall survival (OS) rate.
Results
A total of 100 patients with ES-SCLC were enrolled from seven centers. Median age was 69 years, and 6% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≥ 2. The median PFS was 6.0 months, the 1-year OS rate was 62.2%, and the median OS was 13.5 months. An ECOG PS of 2-3 and progressive disease as the best response were poor prognostic factors for PFS, while an ECOG PS of 2-3 and brain metastasis were associated with poor prognosis for OS. In addition, consolidative thoracic radiotherapy was found to be an independent favorable prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio, 0.336; p=0.021). Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 7% of patients, with treatment-related deaths occurring in 2% of patients.
Conclusion
We provided evidence of the favorable real-world effectiveness and safety of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in ES-SCLC patients, including in the elderly and those with poor ECOG PS. Additional consolidative thoracic radiotherapy may also benefit ES-SCLC patients. -
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With First-Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy and ≥ 2 Subsequent Lines of Therapy in the United States
Kamya Sankar, Sudhir Unni, Marian Eberl, Hoa Le, Tara Herrmann, Boris Gorsh, Mei Tang, Friso Coerts, Sajid Ahmed
Advances in Therapy.2026; 43(1): 214. CrossRef - Atezolizumab in the first-line treatment of small cell lung cancer: Toxicity and safety in real-world clinical practice
Ju. S. Mansurova, M. A. Lyadova, E. A. Denisova, E. S. Kuzmina, V. К. Lyadov
Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council.2026; (21): 20. CrossRef - Atezolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy and etoposide as first-line treatment for metastatic small cell lung cancer: a retrospective multicenter observational study
Laura Moñino Domínguez, Laura Amaro Álvarez, Alicia Aguado Paredes, Isabel María Carrión Madroñal
Farmacia Hospitalaria.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Real-World Evidence of Atezolizumab Efficacy as Part of First-Line Treatment for Extensive-Stage SCLC in Bulgaria
Manoela Manova, Boryana Ivanova, Rositsa Krasteva, Nikolay Conev, Tanya Zlatanova, Jeliazko Arabadjiev, Natalia Chilingirova, Mila Petrova, Assen Dudov, Bozhil Robev, Velko Minchev, Ivan Tonev, Krassimir Koynov, Daniel Penchev, Todor Georgiev, Antoan Rang
Cancers.2026; 18(7): 1129. CrossRef - [Artículo traducido] Atezolizumab más quimioterapia con platino y etopósido como tratamiento de primera línea en cáncer de pulmón microcítico metastásico: estudio multicéntrico observacional retrospectivo
Laura Moñino Domínguez, Laura Amaro Álvarez, Alicia Aguado Paredes, Isabel María Carrión Madroñal
Farmacia Hospitalaria.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - First-Line Serplulimab in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
Jingjing Liu, Liang Han, Lin Wu, Jun Chen, Hongmei Sun, Guilan Wen, Yinghua Ji, Jianhua Shi, Zhijie Pan, Jinsheng Shi, Xicheng Wang, Yuansong Bai, Yueyin Pan, Xuhong Min, Maksym Viguro, Xingya Li, Yanqiu Zhao, Junquan Yang, Tamta Makharadze, Ekaterine Ark
JAMA Oncology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Significance of Platinum‐Based Chemotherapy With Programmed Death‐1 Blockade in Limited Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Ayako Shiono, Hisao Imai, Kyoichi Kaira, Takanori Abe, Yuki Sato, Ken Yamamoto, Hiroki Watanabe, Yuko Tsuchiya‐Kawano, Akihiro Tamiya, Takashi Osaki, Noriko Yanagitani, Shigeru Tanzawa, Toshiyuki Sumi, Kohei Yoshimine, Yohei Matsui, Satoshi Endo, Kazuhiko
Thoracic Cancer.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Impact of Treatment Duration in First-Line Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Real-World Retrospective Study
Mehmet Nuri Baser, Bilgin Demir, Gamze Serin Ozel, Gamze Gokoz Dogu, Serdar Karakaya, Mucahit Ugar, Naziye Ak, Ahmet Ozveren, Ufuk Camanlı, Olcun Umit Unal, Merve Turan, Esin Oktay
Medicina.2025; 61(7): 1230. CrossRef - Extended Follow‐Up Analysis of First‐Line Atezolizumab in Extensive‐Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real‐World Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
Yechan Song, Myeong Geun Choi, Yeon Joo Kim, Jae Cheol Lee, Wonjun Ji, In‐Jae Oh, Sung Yong Lee, Seong Hoon Yoon, Shin Yup Lee, Jeong Eun Lee, Eun Young Kim, Ho Young Kim, Chang‐Min Choi
Thoracic Cancer.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
- Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With First-Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy and ≥ 2 Subsequent Lines of Therapy in the United States
- 8,079 View
- 310 Download
- 8 Web of Science
- 9 Crossref
- A Phase I/IIa Randomized Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of SNK01 Plus Pembrolizumab in Patients with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Eo Jin Kim, Yong-Hee Cho, Dong Ha Kim, Dae-Hyun Ko, Eun-Ju Do, Sang-Yeob Kim, Yong Man Kim, Jae Seob Jung, Yoonmi Kang, Wonjun Ji, Myeong Geun Choi, Jae Cheol Lee, Jin Kyung Rho, Chang-Min Choi
- Cancer Res Treat. 2022;54(4):1005-1016. Published online December 3, 2021
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2021.986
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Abstract
PDFSupplementary MaterialPubReaderePub
- Purpose
The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ex vivo activated and expanded natural killer (NK) cell therapy (SNK01) plus pembrolizumab in a randomized phase I/IIa clinical trial.
Materials and Methods
Overall, 18 patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a programmed death ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 1% or greater who had a history of failed frontline platinum-based therapy were randomized (2:1) to receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks +/– 6 weekly infusions of SNK01 at either 2×109 or 4×109 cells per infusion (pembrolizumab monotherapy vs. SNK01 combination). The primary endpoint was safety, whereas the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and quality of life.
Results
Since no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, the maximum tolerated dose was determined as SNK01 4×109 cells/dose. The safety data did not show any new safety signals when SNK01 was combined with pembrolizumab. The ORR and the 1-year survival rate in the NK combination group were higher than those in patients who underwent pembrolizumab monotherapy (ORR, 41.7% vs. 0%; 1-year survival rate, 66.7% vs. 50.0%). Furthermore, the median PFS was higher in the SNK01 combination group (6.2 months vs. 1.6 months, p=0.001).
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this study, the NK cell combination therapy may consider as a safe treatment method for stage IV NSCLC patients who had a history of failed platinum-based therapy without an increase in adverse events. -
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by- Cell therapy in sarcoma: current landscape and future directions
Taha Koray Sahin, Theodora Germetaki, Deniz Can Guven, Serkan Akin, Omer Dizdar, Fiona Thistlethwaite, Elizabeth A Connolly, Kok Haw Jonathan Lim
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.2026; 14(1): e013396. CrossRef - NK cell infusion is well-tolerated and shows preliminary efficacy in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma post-liver transplantation : a phase I trial
Fan Yang, Yihang Gong, Xiaofang Zheng, Beibei Ni, Jianxi Lu, Xiaoyan Chen, Jintao Cheng, Panlong Li, Cong Du, Yunhao Chen, Yingcai Zhang, Shuhong Yi, Guoying Wang, Qi Zhang, Yang Yang, Wenjie Chen
Journal of Translational Medicine.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Designs of the clinical trials aiming at evaluating cell and gene therapy products: A critical appraisal from a literature review
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Human natural killer cells exhibit potent antifungal activity against azole-resistant
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