The risk for subsequent primary lung cancer after cervical carcinoma: A quantitative analysis based on 864,627 cases

by Sheng Gong, Gang Li, Dan Li, Yu Liu, Banggui Wu

To compare the risk of developing subsequent primary lung cancer among cervical cancer patients and the general population.

Several databases were searched from inception to April 25, 2023. The standard incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to identify the risk for second primary lung cancer after cervical carcinoma. Subgroup analyses based on the follow-up period, age, degree of malignancy and source of SIR were conducted. All the statistical analyses were performed with STATA 15.0 software.

A total of 22 retrospective studies involving 864,627 participants were included. The pooled results demonstrated that cervical cancer patients had a significantly greater risk for lung cancer than did the general population (SIR = 2.63, 95% CI: 2.37–2.91, P<0.001). Furthermore, subgroup analyses stratified by follow-up period (<5 years and ≥5 years), age (≤50 years and <50 years), and degree of malignancy (invasive and in situ) also revealed an increased risk of developing lung cancer among cervical carcinoma patients.

Cervical cancer patients are more likely to develop subsequent primary lung cancer than the general population, regardless of age, follow-up time or degree of malignancy. However, more high-quality prospective studies are still needed to verify our findings.