Lung Cancer-specific Survival Rates Research Articles

Is wedge resection equivalent to segmentectomy in pathological stage IA (≤2 cm) non-small cell lung cancers?

Sublobar resection (wedge resection and segmentectomy) has been established as an oncologically equivalent option to lobectomy for early-stage patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤ 2 cm. However, the optimal approach of sublobar resection remains subject to debate. In the present study we aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of wedge resection and segmentectomy in these patients. We identified patients with pT1a-bN0M0 NSCLC who underwent wedge resection and segmentectomy from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2020. A Cox regression model and propensity-score matching (PSM) analysis were used. Overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 4190 patients met our selection criteria, including wedge resection in 3137 and segmentectomy in 1053. Patients undergoing wedge resection were less likely to have total lymph nodes resected (4 vs. 7, p < 0.001). Before PSM, patients undergoing segmentectomy had a higher 5-year OS rate (87.75% vs. 82.72%; p = 0.0023), while exhibiting a similar LCSS rate (93.45% vs. 92.73%; p = 0.32). After PSM, segmentectomy consistently demonstrated significantly better OS and there was no statistically significant difference in LCSS. Analysis of causes of death revealed that a higher incidence of deaths related to other causes among patients undergoing wedge resection compared to those undergoing segmentectomy. Both wedge resection and segmentectomy yield comparable oncological outcomes for patients with NSCLC ≤ 2 cm, although segmentectomy exhibits superior OS due to less death related to other causes.

Surgical outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer in younger adults: A population-based study.

The surgical outcomes for younger patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features long-term survival outcomes in younger individuals with NSCLC following surgery. We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2010 to 2017, selecting all pathologically confirmed NSCLC cases that underwent cancer-directed surgery. Younger patients were defined as those aged 18-50 years, while older patients were 51-80 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was implemented to mitigate selection bias. Overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. Among the 33 586 treated surgically patients, 2223 (6.6%) were young. Compared to the older group, younger patients had a higher frequency of female gender, non-white ethnicity, carcinoid tumors, stage IV disease, pneumonectomy, and postoperative adjuvant therapies. The 5-year OS rates were significantly higher for younger patients (79.3% vs. 62.0%; p < 0.001), as were the 5-year LCSS rates (82.4% vs. 71.8%; p < 0.001). Post-PSM, younger patients consistently demonstrated significantly better OS and LCSS. Further stage-specific analysis revealed significantly improved 5-year OS rates at each stage and superior 5-year LCSS for stages I-II among younger patients. However, there was no statistically significant difference in LCSS for stages III-IV. Overall, younger patients with NSCLC treated surgically exhibit superior OS and LCSS compared to their older counterparts, although no statistically significant difference in LCSS for stages III-IV was observed between the two age groups.

The characteristics and prognosis of different disease patterns of multiple primary lung cancers categorized according to the 8th edition lung cancer staging system.

The 8th edition lung cancer staging system was the first to describe the detailed diagnosis and staging of multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC). However, the characteristics and prognosis of MPLC categorized according to the new system have not been evaluated. We retrospectively analyzed data from surgically treated MPLC patients in a single center from 2011 to 2013 and explored the characteristics and outcomes of different MPLC disease patterns. In total, 202 surgically treated MPLC patients were identified and classified into different groups according to disease categories and diagnostic time (multifocal ground glass/lepidic (GG/L) nodules: n = 139, second primary lung cancer (SPLC): n = 63, simultaneous MPLC (sMPLC): n = 171, and metachronous MPLC (mMPLC): n = 31). There were significant differences in clinical characteristics between SPLC and GG/L nodule patients and simultaneous and metachronous MPLC patients. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year lung cancer-specific survival rates of MPLC were 97.98%, 90.18%, and 82.81%, respectively. Five-year survival was better in patients with multiple GG/L nodules than in those with SPLC (87.94% vs. 71.29%, P < 0.05). Sex was an independent prognostic factor for sMPLC (5-year survival, female vs. male, 88.0% vs. 69.5%, P < 0.05), and in multiple tumors, the highest tumor stage was an independent prognostic factor for all categories of MPLC. The different disease patterns of MPLC have significantly different characteristics and prognoses. Clinicians should place treatment emphasis on the tumor with the highest stage as it is the main contributor to the prognosis of all categories of MPLC patients.

Long-term Survival After Lung Cancer Resection in the National Lung Screening Trial

BackgroundThis study sought to evaluate the long-term survival and causes of death after surgery among patients with pathologic stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). MethodsPatients who underwent surgery and who had a diagnosis of pathologic stage IA NSCLC in the NLST were identified for analysis. The 5- and 10-year overall survival and lung cancer–specific survival, stratified by operation type, were evaluated. Among patients who underwent lobectomy, the causes of death and the cumulative incidence of lung cancer death were assessed. ResultsA total of 380 patients (n = 329, 86.6% lobectomy; n = 20, 5.3% segmentectomy; n = 31, 8.1% wedge resection) met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up time from the date of surgery was 7.8 years (interquartile range, 4.8-10.7 years). The 10-year overall survival rate was 58.3% (95% CI, 52.4%-63.8%) for lobectomy, 59.9% (95% CI, 33.2%-78.8%) for segmentectomy, and 45.2% (95% CI, 20.8%-66.9%) for wedge resection. The 10-year lung cancer–specific survival rate was 74.3% (95% CI, 68.6%-79.1%) for lobectomy, 81.3% (95% CI, 51.3%-93.8%) for segmentectomy, and 84.8% (95% CI, 64.0%-94.1%) for wedge resection. Lung cancer was the leading cause of death, accounting for 55.8% of deaths after lobectomy. The 10-year cumulative incidence of lung cancer death after lobectomy was 22.5% (95% CI, 18.3%-27.1%). ConclusionsThe 10-year overall survival rate after lobectomy among patients with pathologic stage IA NSCLC in the NLST was 58%. Lung cancer was the leading cause of death, accounting for more than 55% of deaths.

Complete thoracoscopic lobectomy versus hybrid video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the standard approach to lobectomy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there are many different types. One of its approaches is complete thoracoscopic surgery (CTS), which may be less invasive because of low chest wall stress. This study compared the treatment outcomes of CTS and hybrid VATS lobectomy for NSCLC. In total, 442 eligible patients with clinical N0 NSCLC underwent lobectomy between 2007 and 2016. Patients were classified into a group of patients who underwent CTS and a group of those who underwent hybrid VATS. Propensity score matching was performed between the two groups. There were 175 patients after matching. The median follow-up period in the CTS and hybrid VATS groups was 60 and 63months, respectively. The CTS group showed less blood loss (CTS, 50mL vs. 100mL, p = 0.005), fewer complications (CTS, 25.7% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.037), and shorter postoperative hospital stays (CTS, 8days vs. 12days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the postoperative 30-day mortality rates. Between the patients who underwent CTS and hybrid VATS groups, the 5-year overall survival rates were 85.4% and 86.0% (p = 0.701), the relapse-free survival rates were 76.5% and 74.9% (p = 0.435), and the lung cancer-specific survival rates were 91.5% and 91.7% (p = 0.90), respectively. CTS is less invasive and has superior short-term outcomes as an approach to lobectomy for early-stage NSCLC.

Older age is not a negative factor for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer: a single-center, retrospective, propensity score-matching study.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has changed the surgical approach to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) dramatically. The current study compares the outcomes of older and younger patients who underwent VATS lobectomy for NSCLC. In total, 424 eligible patients with pathological stage I NSCLC underwent VATS lobectomy between 2007 and 2017. Patients were classified into two groups (< 75 and ≥ 75years old), after which propensity score-matching was performed. After matching, 143 patients were identified. No significant difference in postoperative complication rates was observed; however, the ≥75-year-old group had a longer postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.001). The 5-year overall survival, relapse-free survival, and lung cancer-specific survival rates of the < 75- and ≥ 75-year-old groups were 87.1% vs. 85.6% (p = 0.537), 82.1% vs. 79.0% (p = 0.531), and 93.5% vs. 92.7% (p = 0.832), respectively. Despite the longer postoperative recovery following VATS lobectomy, the short- and long-term outcomes of older patients did not differ from those of younger patients. Thus, for early-stage NSCLC, older age alone was not a negative factor for lobectomy performed via minimally invasive surgery. Naturally, the systemic condition of this population must be evaluated carefully before surgery.

Pulmonary Nodules, Lung Cancer Screening, and Lung Cancer in the Medicare Population

Early detection of lung cancer through management of pulmonary nodules (PNs) may reduce lung cancer mortality. We assessed the relationship between PNs and lung cancer. How common are PNs in the Medicare population? What is the rate of lung cancer after detection of PNs? What is the relative proportion of early-stage lung cancer diagnosed after reporting of PNs vsthrough low-dose CT (LDCT) scan screening? Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program-Medicare database, we defined two cohorts: those in the 5%sample with≥ 12months of Medicare Parts A and B coverage from 2014 through 2019 (5%sample cohort) and those with a diagnosis of lung cancer from 2015 through 2017 with coverage for the prior 18-month period (lung cancer cohort). We defined PNs as chest CT scans with accompanying codes of 793.11 (International Classification of Diseases [ICD], Ninth Revision) or R91.1 (ICD, Tenth Revision) denoting a solitary PN. Patients in the lung cancer cohort were classified by whether they had undergone LDCT scan screening and whether they had a diagnosis of PN or neither (reference) within 18months before diagnosis. We compared cancer stage and survival across groups. Of 627,547 patients in the 5%sample cohort, 5.0%demonstrated PNs over median of 5.0 years of follow-up. Cumulative 1- and 2-year lung cancer rates after initial PN diagnosis were 3.2%and 4.7%, respectively. Of 44,194 patients in the lung cancer cohort, 15.7%, 2.9%, and 81.4%were in the PN, LDCT scan, and reference groups, respectively. Of patients in the PN, LDCT scan, and reference groups, 58.1%, 50.3%, and 24.4%respectively, had disease of a localized stage. Among all patients with localized disease, 30.0%and 4.9%were in the PN and LDCT scan and groups, respectively. Three-year lung cancer-specific survival rates were 75.0%, 75.6%, and 49.4%for the PN, LDCT scan, and reference groups. Patients with lung cancer who received a diagnosis after identification of PNs tended to have localized disease. Of all patients with localized disease, almost one-third had PNs that were diagnosed previously, compared with 5%of patients who had undergone LDCT scan screening. PNs represent a relatively common presentation of potentially curable lung cancer.

Surgery offers survival advantage over radiotherapy in patients who are 80 years and older with Stage I and II NSCLC: A retrospective cohort study of 7,045 patients.

ObjectiveElderly people are less likely than younger patients to undergo curative surgery for early-stage lung cancer because of the greater risk of surgery and postoperative complications. We investigated the relationship between treatment modality and the risk of all-cause and lung cancer-specific mortality to compare the efficacy of surgical treatment with radiotherapy in patients with stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were ≥80 years old.MethodsWe extracted data from the most recent Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 registry study database (2010–2017). We mainly selected patients with stage I and II NSCLC who were ≥80 years old, and after screening, 7,045 cases were selected for our study. We used univariate analysis, stratified analysis, and multiple regression equation analysis to examine all-cause mortality and lung cancer-specific mortality in different treatment modalities. The overall and stratified populations' survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method. The competing risk regression method of Fine and Gray was used to estimate mortality specific to lung cancer.ResultsIn the fully adjusted model, all-cause mortality was 1.97 times higher in the radiotherapy-only group (hazard ration (HR) = 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.81–2.14, p < 0.0001) than in the surgery-only group. The lung cancer-specific mortality rate was 1.22 times higher in the radiotherapy-only group (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.13–1.32, p < 0.0001) than in the surgery-only group. The median overall survival (OS) in the surgery-only, radiation therapy-only, surgery plus radiation therapy, and no-treatment groups were 58 months, 31 months, 36 months, and 10 months, respectively. Median lung cancer-specific survival was 61 months, 32 months, 38 months, and 11 months, respectively. The surgery-only group had the highest 1-year OS (0.8679,95% CI = 0.8537–0.8824) and 5-year OS (0.4873, 95% CI = 0.4632–0.5126).ConclusionsSurgery had a higher overall and lung cancer-specific survival rate than radiotherapy and no treatment in the elderly early-stage NSCLC population. For patients with stage I and stage II NSCLC at advanced ages, surgical treatment might have a greater potential survival benefit.

Selection of the surgical approach for patients with cStage IA lung squamous cell carcinoma: A population-based propensity score matching analysis.

BackgroundThis study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the survival rates after segmentectomy, wedge resection, or lobectomy in patients with cStage IA lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsWe enrolled 4,316 patients who had cStage IA lung SCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The Cox proportional hazards model was conducted to recognize the potential risk factors for overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS). To eliminate potential biases of included patients, the propensity score matching (PSM) method was used. OS and LCSS rates were compared among three groups stratified according to tumor size.ResultsKaplan–Meier analyses revealed no statistical differences in the rates of OS and LCSS between wedge resection (WR) and segmentectomy (SG) groups for patients who had cStage IA cancers. In patients with tumors ≤ 1 cm, LCSS favored lobectomy (Lob) compared to segmentectomy (SG), but a similar survival rate was obtained for wedge resection (WR) and lobectomy (Lob). For patients with tumors sized 1.1 to 2 cm, lobectomy had improved OS and LCSS rates compared to the segmentectomy or wedge resection groups, with the exception of a similar OS rate for lobectomy and segmentectomy. For tumors sized 2.1 to 3 cm, lobectomy had a higher rate of OS or LCSS than wedge resection or segmentectomy, except that lobectomy conferred a similar LCSS rate compared to segmentectomy. Multivariable analyses showed that patients aged ≥75 and tumor sizes of >2 to ≤3 cm were potential risk factors for OS and LCSS, while lobectomy and first malignant primary indicator were considered protective factors. The Cox proportional analysis also confirmed that male patients aged ≥65 to <75 were independent prognostic factors that are indicative of a worse OS rate.ConclusionsThe tumor size can influence the surgical procedure recommended for individuals with cStage IA lung SCC. For patients with tumors ≤1 cm, lobectomy is the recommended approach, and wedge resection or segmentectomy might be an alternative for those who cannot tolerate lobectomy if adequate surgical margin is achievable and enough nodes are sampled. For tumors >1 to ≤3 cm, lobectomy showed better survival outcomes than sublobar resection. Our findings require further validation by randomized controlled trial (RCT) or other evidence.

Survival of 7,311 lung cancer patients by pathological stage and histological classification: a multicenter hospital-based study in China.

BackgroundRepresentative prognostic data by clinical characteristics for lung cancer is not yet available in China. This study aimed to calculate the survival of lung cancer patients with different pathological evaluations, explore their predictive effects and provide information for prognosis improvement.MethodsIn this multicenter cohort study, primary lung cancer patients diagnosed in 17 hospitals at three distinct levels in China between 2011–2013 were enrolled and followed up till 2020. Overall survival and lung cancer specific survival were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards model was applied to assess the effects of predictors of lung cancer survival.ResultsOf all the 7,311 patients, the 5-year overall and lung cancer specific survival rates were 37.0% and 41.6%, respectively. For lung cancer patients at stages I, II, III, and IV, the 5-year overall survival rates were 76.9%, 56.1%, 32.6%, and 21.4%, respectively; the lung cancer specific survival rates were 82.3%, 59.7%, 37.2%, and 26.4%, respectively. Differences of survival for each stage remained significant between histological classifications (P<0.01). The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma (AC), and small cell carcinoma were 36.9%, 43.3% and 27.9%, respectively; the corresponding disease-specific rates were 41.5%, 48.6% and 31.0%, respectively. Such differences were non-statistically significant at advanced stages (P=0.09). After multivariate adjustments, stage and classification remained independent predictors for the survival of lung cancer.ConclusionsThe prognosis of lung cancer varied with the pathological stages and histological classifications, and had room for improvement. Stage was the strongest predictor, so efforts on early detection and treatment are needed.

Older patients more likely to die from cancer-related diseases than younger with stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: a SEER database analysis.

BackgroundVarious reports showed some conflicting data on survival at different ages. This study aimed to investigate the main cause of death in older patients with lung cancer and to perform a comparison with younger patients in order to observe the differences between these two cohorts.MethodsOutcomes of patients with stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤3 cm who underwent lobectomy without induction therapy in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-18 (SEER-18; January 2004 to December 2016) database were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling and propensity score-matched analysis.ResultsA total of 16,672 eligible NSCLC cases were found in the SEER database. The number of patients aged ≤60, 61–70, and ≥71 years was 3,930, 6,391, and 6,351, respectively. Among these patient groups, 527 (13.4%), 1,018 (15.9%), and 1,235 (19.4%) died of lung cancer during follow-up, while 357 (9.1%), 964 (15.1%) and 1,579 (25.2%) died of non-lung cancer diseases, respectively. The overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) rates of younger patients showed a significant survival advantage over older patients. After propensity-score matching (PSM) of patients aged ≤60 and ≥71 years using a ratio of 1:1, we found that 403 (12.9%) and 584 (18.7%) patients in the ≤60 and ≥71 years age groups died of lung cancer, respectively. The OS and LCSS rates of younger patients still exhibited a significant survival advantage over older patients.ConclusionsOlder patients with stage IA NSCLC have a worse prognosis compared with younger patients. Also, cancer-related causes were more frequent in older patients than non-cancer-related causes.

Incidental pulmonary nodules, lung cancer screening, and lung cancer in the Medicare population.

6536 Background: Low-dose CT lung cancer screening (LDCT) saves lives, but only 5%-10% of eligible persons in the US have participated. Management of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) identified on CT scans may also reduce lung cancer mortality. We assessed the frequency of IPNs, estimated cumulative lung cancer rates following IPNs, and compared characteristics of lung cancers diagnosed following IPNs versus LDCT screens. Methods: We defined 2 cohorts in the SEER-Medicare database: persons with 12+ months of Medicare Part A&amp;B coverage during 2014-2019 comprised the 5% sample cohort; persons in SEER-Medicare diagnosed with lung cancer during 2015-2017 with Part A&amp;B coverage for the prior 18-month period comprised the lung cancer cohort. We defined IPNs as chest CTs with ICD-10 codes of R91.1 (solitary pulmonary nodule) or R91.8 (other nonspecific abnormal finding of lung field) on the same date as the CT; we used corresponding ICD-9 codes through September 2015. We classified lung cancer cohort cases by whether they had an LDCT (LDCT group), an IPN without an LDCT screen (IPN-only), or neither (Referent) within 18 months before diagnosis. We compared cancer stage and survival between these groups. Results: Of 627,547 subjects in the 5% sample cohort, 58.6% were women; 85.6% were non-Hispanic White (NH-Whites) and 7.7% non-Hispanic Black (NH-Blacks). Over median 5.0 years follow-up, 26.3% had chest CTs and 12.0% had IPNs. The IPN rate was similar by sex but significantly higher in NH-Whites (12.7%) than NH-Blacks (9.7%). The cumulative lung cancer rate following initial IPNs was 2.27% at two years. Of the 44,194 lung cancer cohort cases (85.8% NH-White, 8.2% NH-Black), 26.9%, 2.9% and 70.2% were in the IPN-only, LDCT, and Referent groups, respectively. NH-Whites comprised a higher proportion of LDCT than of IPN-only cases (90.1% vs. 88.4%), while for NH-Blacks, the reverse was true (5.4% vs. 6.5%). The ratio of LDCT:IPN lung cancer cases was 1:9. Among IPN-only and LDCT group cases, 52.0% and 50.3%, respectively, were localized stage, compared to 21.5% for the Referent group. Among all localized cases, 45.4% and 4.9% were in the IPN-only and LDCT groups, respectively. Comparing 3-year survival between IPN vs LDCT vs Referent groups, respectively: aggregate overall survival rates were 53.5% v 59.2% v 29.2%; aggregate lung cancer-specific survival, 71.1% v 75.3% v 46.6%; overall survival for localized cases, 73.2% v 80.7% v 62.9%; lung cancer-specific survival rates for localized cases, 88.2%, 91.8% and 81.4%. Conclusions: Subjects with IPNs had similar stage distribution and survival as LDCT-screened subjects. Almost half of localized cases had prior IPNs, compared to a &lt; 5% of LDCT-screened cases. IPN programs, by circumventing implementation barriers to LDCT, may expand access to early lung cancer detection, including to African American patients and in places where LDCT coverage is not available.

Lobectomy Can Improve the Survival of Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Lung Oligometastatic.

Background: This study was to evaluate the value of lobectomy in the prognosis of Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with primary metastasis based on the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.Methods: This was a population-based retrospective study and the clinical data were collected from the National Cancer Institute's SEER database between 2010 and 2015. The effects of pulmonary surgery and surgical procedures on lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed, and the COX regression models were employed to evaluate the survival of primary surgery in patients with primary metastatic NSCLC (pmNSCLC) and the survival of surgical procedure in pmNSCLC patients.Results: A total of 55,717 patients diagnosed with pmNSCLC between 2010 and 2015 were enrolled, and pulmonary surgery was indicated in 1,575 (2.83%) patients. Surgery was an independent risk factor for LCSS (P < 0.001, HR 0.658, 95%CI: 0.637–0.680) and OS (P < 0.001, HR 0.665, 95%CI: 0.644–0.686) of pmNSCLC patients. The surgery was associated with better OS (P < 0.001, HR 0.678, 95%CI: 0.657–0.699). The site of metastasis was also related to the survival after primary tumor surgery (P = 0.001). As compared to the sublobectomy and pneumonectomy, lobectomy improved the LCSS for NSCLC patients with single-organ metastasis, rather than multiple metastases (P < 0.001). In patients receiving sublobectomy, lobectomy, and pneumonectomy, the median LCSS was 12, 28, and 13 months, respectively, and the 5-year LCSS rate was 14.39, 32.06, and 17.24%, respectively.Conclusion: The effect of locoregional surgery on the survival of pmNSCLC patients with single-organ metastasis has been underestimated, and lobectomy may be a preferred treatment for patients with single-lung metastasis.

Comparative Effectiveness of Lobectomy, Segmentectomy, and Wedge Resection for Pathological Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients: A Population-Based Study.

Introduction: This study was designed to assess the long-term survival of lobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resection for pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients over 75 years of age.Patients and methods: Pathological stage I NSCLC patients aged ≥75 years who underwent lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Propensity score–matched and competing risks analyses were conducted. The overall survival (OS) rate and lung cancer–specific survival (LCSS) rate were compared among the three groups based on the pathological stage.Results: A total of 3,345 patients were included. In the full cohort, the OS rate and LCSS rate of lobectomy were superior to wedge resection, but not to segmentectomy, the OS advantage diminished when patients were over 85 years old or when at least one lymph node was examined during the procedure. Stratified analyses showed that there was no significant difference in OS and LCSS rates among the three surgical procedures for patients with tumors smaller than 1.0 cm. The OS and LCSS of wedge resection, not segmentectomy, were inferior to lobectomy in stage IA2–IB tumors.Conclusion: Lobectomy should be recognized as the “gold standard” procedure for pathological stage I NSCLC in patients over 75 years of age, and segmentectomy could be considered as an effective alternative. Wedge resection could be considered for patients with compromised cardiopulmonary function or tumors smaller than 1.0 cm, and intraoperative lymph node examination should be conducted.

Adjuvant treatment can improve prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer ≤3 cm after sublobectomy: a propensity score analysis.

BackgroundNumerous retrospective studies have reported that sublobectomy has a poorer prognosis than lobectomy in patients with early-stage lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adjuvant treatment could improve the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤3 cm after sublobectomy.MethodsWe collected data from 17,763 patients with T1N0M0 NSCLC after surgery from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to compare the overall survival (OS) rates and the lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) rates. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to discover the independent risk factors for both the OS and LCSS rates.ResultsLobectomy was performed in 12,428 cases and sublobectomy was performed in 5,335 cases. In the sublobectomy group, among the 394 patients treated with adjuvant therapy, larger tumor diameter, a lower number of lymph node dissections, and more wedge resections were observed in the patients treated with adjuvant therapy. In the subsequent survival analysis, the OS and LCSS rates of adjuvant therapy patients showed a significant survival advantage over those treated with sublobectomy alone (P<0.05). The survival analysis was performed again after propensity match scoring, generating similar results (P<0.05). There was still a significant difference in OS between adjuvant therapy and lobectomy alone (P<0.05).ConclusionsChemoradiotherapy can improve the OS of patients with NSCLC ≤3 cm after sublobectomy and reduce death caused by tumors. Therefore, when patients cannot tolerate lobectomy or are given inappropriate sublobectomy, adjuvant therapy can improve the prognosis of patients.

A meta-analysis comparing stereotactic body radiotherapy vs conventional radiotherapy in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) superseded conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for the treatment of patients with inoperable early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) over a decade ago. However, the direct comparisons of the outcomes of SBRT and CRT remain controversial. This meta-analysis was performed to compare the survival and safety of SBRT and CRT in patients with inoperable stage I NSCLC. We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar for relevant articles. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS), local control rate (LCR) and adverse effects (AEs) were the primary outcomes. We identified 11,110 articles, 17 of which were eventually included in this study; these 17 articles had 17,973 patients (SBRT: 7395; CRT: 10,578). Compared to CRT for the treatment of inoperable stage I NSCLC, SBRT had superior survival in terms of OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-0.70, P < .00001), LCSS (HR: 0.42 [0.35-0.50], P < .00001), and PFS (HR: 0.34 [0.25-0.48], P < .00001). The 4-year OS rate (OSR); 4-year LCSS rate (LCSSR); 3-year local control rate (LCR); 5-year PFS rate (PFSR) with SBRT were all higher than those with CRT. With regard to all-grade AEs, the SBRT group had a significantly lower rate of dyspnea, esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis; no significant difference was found in grade 3-5 AEs (risk ratio [RR]: 0.68 [0.30-1.53], P = .35). With better survival and a lower rate of dyspnea, esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis than CRT, SBRT appears to be more suitable for patients with inoperable stage I NSCLC.

Different prognostic significance of examined lymph node count for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer ≤1cm or>1-2cm: a population-based study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the impact of examined lymph node (ELN) count on survival of resected pT1a-1bN0M0 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials & methods: Data were extracted from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. The association between ELN count and overall survival (OS) or lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) was investigated. Results: A total of 9603 patients were enrolled. For the first through the fourth quartiles of pT1aN0M0 group, the 5-year OS and LCSS rates were of no statistical difference. While in pT1bN0M0 group, they were 68.7, 73.8, 76.6 and 77.8% (p<0.001) and 80.7, 84.1, 85.9 and 87.1% (p<0.001), respectively. X-Tile analysis showed that 4 is the optimal cutoff value for ELN count in pT1bN0M0 patients for both OS and LCSS. Conclusion: These findings indicated that greater number of ELNs is associated with better survival of resected pT1bN0M0 NSCLC. But a greater number of ELNs is worth to discuss for pT1aN0M0 NSCLC during surgery.

Treatment of clinical T4 stage superior sulcus non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity-matched analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database.

Purpose/Objective(s): Treatments for superior sulcus non-small cell lung cancer (SS-NSCLC) have evolved, but adequate treatments of T4 disease have not been found. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and optimal treatment strategy for patients with T4 SS-NSCLC. Materials/Methods: We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1973–2015) to identify patients diagnosed with T4 stage SS-NSCLC (according to the 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system) from 2004 to 2015; those with M1 disease were excluded. Propensity score matching (PSM) with Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards’ models was performed to estimate prognosis. Results: A total of 384 patients were included. The majority was male (59.4%) at stage IIIB (56.6%), with N2 accounting for 45.3%. A total of 47 patients underwent cancer-directed surgery, while radiotherapy alone was received by 60.2% of patients. Median overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) were 12 and 17 months, respectively, and the 5-year OS and LCSS rates were 15.8 and 25.4%, respectively. In the matched population, the median survival outcomes were better following surgery (OS: 25 compared with 9.0 months, P<0.001; LCSS: not available (NA) compared with 11.0 months, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that ages ≥ 66 years (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.639, P=0.001), unmarried status (HR = 1.356, P=0.034), and tumor size ≥ 6.0 cm (HR = 1.694, P<0.001) were associated with inferior OS. Cancer-directed surgery (HR = 0.537, P=0.009) and radiotherapy (HR = 0.644, P=0.006) were independent prognostic factors for patients with T4 SS-NSCLC. Conversely, in the subgroup analysis, favorable impacts of radiotherapy were observed for nonsurgical patients (OS: HR = 0.58, P<0.001; LCSS: HR = 0.55, P<0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that T4 stage SS-NSCLC patients had a poor prognosis. Surgical resection remains the best option for those with resectable disease. For nonsurgical T4 SS-NSCLC patients, radiotherapy should be actively considered.

Definitive Radiation for Stage I Lung Cancer in a Screened Population: Results From the I-ELCAP

The International Early Lung Cancer Action Program is a cohort study to assess the cure rate of participants undergoing annual low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer. This study compares the characteristics and outcomes of patients who received a diagnosis of clinical stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treated with definitive radiation therapy and surgical resection. Patient information was drawn from the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program database from 1992 to 2017. All instances in which treatment was performed for histologically proven stage I NSCLC using definitive radiation therapy and surgery were identified. The home institution determined radiation plans. Patient characteristics and Kaplan-Meier lung cancer-specific (LCS) long-term survival rates were compared for both types of treatment. Follow-up time was calculated from time of diagnosis until death from lung cancer, loss to follow-up, or December 31, 2017, whichever came earlier. Among 82,628 baseline and 109,250 annual repeat screenings, 853 patients received a diagnosis of clinical stage I NSCLC, of whom 31 (3.6%) were treated by definitive radiation therapy and 702 (82.3%) by surgical resection alone. Radiation therapy prescription information was obtainable for 24 of the 31 patients: The median dose was 54.5Gy, the median number of fractions was 5, and 17 patients were treated using stereotactic body radiation therapy. LCS survival rates were not significantly different for radiation therapy compared with surgery: 90.0% (95% confidence interval, 84.9%-100.0%) versus 94.8% (95% confidence interval, 93.0%-96.6%) (P=.09). Median follow-up time was 9.7years for all, but it was shorter for those treated by radiation therapy than for those who underwent surgery (4.3 vs 10.0years, P<.0001). The majority of patients identified by computed tomography screening were treated with surgical resection. Despite being older and having more comorbidities, LCS long-term survival rates of patients treated with definitive radiation therapy were not significantly different compared with survival rates of patients treated with surgery alone. Radiation therapy appears to be a viable alternative to surgery for screen-diagnosed patients with lung cancer.

Choice of the surgical approach for patients with stage I lung squamous cell carcinoma ≤3 cm.

We tried to explore the surgical procedures for stage I squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with a size of ≤3 cm by using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Furthermore, we investigated the relationships between the chosen surgical option and the size of SCC. In total, 1,147 patient data sets were collected from 2010 to 2011 using the SEER database. Afterwards, 849 patients with a pT1-2aN0M0 SCC with a size of ≤3 cm after a lobectomy or sublobectomy procedure were identified. Kaplan-Meier curves were conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) rates and the lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) rates between the two surgical approaches. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to discover the independent risk factors for both the OS and LCSS rates. Lastly, subgroup analysis was stratified by the size of the SCC and then classified by the 8th edition T category. The sublobectomy procedure did not demonstrate a difference for the OS rate. Additionally, it demonstrated a worse LCSS rate when compared with a lobectomy for stage I SCC. In the subgroup analysis, a lobectomy was shown to have a better survival outcome only when the SCC was >2 and ≤3 cm. Multivariable analysis showed that a size of >2 to ≤3 cm, and an age of >60 were independently associated with poorer OS while the sublobectomy procedure and pleural invasions (PI) were related with a poorer LCSS rate. In the stratification of data for the tumor size, the cox proportional analysis still confirmed the protective effects of the lobectomy in subgroups of SCCs with sizes between >2 to ≤3 cm as well as the T1c category. The choice of the SCC surgery can be recommended based on the tumor size. A lobectomy procedure demonstrated a better LCSS against the sublobectomy in stage I SCC. SCC with sizes of >2 to ≤3 cm could become a pretty good indicator for lobectomy, while a sublobectomy may be an adequate substitute when the SCC size is ≤2 cm, especially for patients who cannot tolerate a lobectomy. T1c category can also suggest a lobectomy instead of sublobectomy for stage I SCC patients.