Abstract: Objectives To investigate the correlation between hemoglobin level and chemotherapy efficacy as well as survival prognosis in patients with unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The clinical data of 280 patients with unresectable NSCLC who were admitted in the Guangxi Tumor Hospital from January 2005 to January 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into anemia group and non-anemia group，according to their gender，clinical stage and histopathological type. Statistical difference was analyzed by χ2 test. Survival analysis was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test.  Multivariate analysis was performed by Cox stepwise regression model. Results The clinical benefit rate of chemotherapy in the anemia group was decreased (P＜0.05)，and the survival time in non-anemia group was longer than that of anemia group (P＜0.001). Between the two groups，the survival time of stage Ⅲ_B/Ⅳ，adenocarcinoma and   undifferentiated  carcinoma was statistically different (P＜0.05)，but that of stage Ⅲ_A，squamous carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma was not significantly different (P＞0.05). The Cox analysis showed that anemia was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patient. Conclusions Hemoglobin level before initial therapy is related to survival time and the clinical benefit rate of patients with NSCLC. Anemia is an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patients.

Key words: Anemia, Non-small-cell lung cancer, Clinical benefit rate, Prognosis