Lung squamous cell carcinoma: A postoperative recurrence analysis of keratinizing and nonkeratinizing subtypes

Abstract

BackgroundThere is currently no definite clinical implication for the subtypes of lung squamous cell carcinoma according to the 2015 WHO classification. This study aimed to investigate postoperative recurrence of the two major subtypes of lung squamous cell carcinoma: keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (KSCC) and nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC). MethodsWe identified the patients with KSCC and NKSCC who had undergone complete resection in Shanghai Chest Hospital between April 2015 and June 2016. Disease-free survival (DFS) was compared using Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis. Variables selected by univariate analysis were evaluated in multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model. ResultsA total of 334 patients included 231 (69.2%) cases with KSCC and 103 (30.8%) cases with NKSCC. There were more smokers in keratinizing than nonkeratinizing subtype (84.8% versus 72.8%, p = 0.009). The percentage of stage Ⅲ was higher in NKSCC than that in KSCC (35% versus 22.9%, p = 0.012). The 2-year DFS rates of stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ were 90.1%, 66.4% and 37.7% in KSCC, 83.3%, 67.7% and 52.8% in NKSCC, respectively. There were no significant differences of 2-year DFS rates between KSCC and NKSCC. Furthermore, KSCC and NKSCC had no significant differences in recurrence patterns and metastatic sites. ConclusionThere were no significant differences of postoperative recurrence between KSCC and NKSCC.