Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39757150›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2025

Non-small cell lung cancer in ever-smokers vs never-smokers.

Jeremy R Burt, Naim Qaqish, Greg Stoddard, Amani Jridi, Parker Sage Anderson, Lacey Woods, Anna Newman, Malorie R Carter, Reham Ellessy, Jordan Chamberlin and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Breathing carcinogens: PMJournal of thoracic disease · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Jeremy R BurtDepartment of Radiology, Cardiothoracic Imaging, University of Utah, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Dr, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA. radhopkins@hsc.utah.edu.
Naim QaqishDepartment of Radiology, Cardiothoracic Imaging, University of Utah, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Dr, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Greg StoddardDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Amani JridiDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Parker Sage AndersonSpencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Lacey WoodsSpencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Anna NewmanSpencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Malorie R CarterSpencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Reham EllessyUniversity of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Jordan ChamberlinDepartment of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Ismail KabakusDepartment of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.

Funding

CTSA UM1 Program at University of UtahUM1TR004409 · NCATS · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI RACHEL HESS, Jennifer Juhl Majersik · 2023 to 2026
$21.9M
NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004409
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 85% of cases with rising incidence among never-smokers (NS). This study seeks to compare clinical, imaging, pathology, and outcomes between NS and ever-smokers (S) NSCLC patients to identify significant differences if any.

methodsRetrospective cohort study of 155 NSCLC patients (88 S and 67 NS). The main predictor was smoking. Clinical, imaging, and pathology findings were evaluated at initial biopsy for staging. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was 12-month progression-free survival.

resultsImaging: NS and S had similar nodule size (0.81), calcification (> 0.99), and invasion of adjacent structures (> 0.99) (p values). NS slightly trended to more commonly involve the RLL vs S the RUL (p = 0.11). NS had higher numbers of extrathoracic metastases at initial biopsy for staging (p = 0.055). PATHOLOGY: NS more commonly had adenocarcinoma compared to S, who had equal numbers of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.001). Rates of lymphovascular and pleural invasion were similar (p = 0.84 and 0.28). Initial staging: NS were more often initially diagnosed with stage IV disease (p = 0.046), positive nodal disease (p = 0.002), and metastatic disease (p = 0.004). OUTCOMES: S had a non-significant trend toward worse 12-month progression-free survival (rate ratio = 1.31, p = 0.31; HR = 1.33, p = 0.28). NS and S had similar 1-year all-cause mortality (HR = 1.06, p = 0.90). S had nearly double the risk of all-cause mortality in 5 years (HR = 1.73, p = 0.056) and 10 years (HR = 1.77, p = 0.02). Median survival was 6.6 years for NS and 3.9 years for S, with NS surviving 2.7 years longer on average (p = 0.045).

conclusionsCT nodule features were similar in NS and S. NS more often had metastatic adenopathy, distant metastases, and stage IV disease at initial biopsy. Despite similar 12-month progression-free survival and 1-year all-cause mortality, S had nearly double the risk of mortality in the first 5 and 10 years post-diagnosis.

trial registrationRetrospectively registered.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungLung NeoplasmsSmokingAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiopsyEx-SmokersFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateLungMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingAll-cause mortalityCancer stagingChest CTHistopathologyNon-small cell lung cancer

Identifiers

PMID39757150
PMCPMC11702147

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.