Adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background Adjuvant chemotherapy after complete surgical resection is currently the standard of care for patients with stage IB, II, or IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the generalizability of this treatment to elderly patients is controversial. We investigated the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients aged over 75 years with stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 246 consecutive patients aged over 75 years with stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent standard lung cancer surgery between January 2001 and December 2015. They were divided into 102 who had adjuvant chemotherapy and 144 who had none (control group). The outcomes were compared between the two groups, and prognostic factors were evaluated. Results Relapse-free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in the control group than the chemotherapy group ( p = 0.006 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariable analyses, adjuvant chemotherapy was found to be an independent prognostic factor for relapse-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.594, 95% confidence interval: 0.396-0.893, p = 0.012; and hazard ratio = 0.616, 95% confidence interval: 0.397-0.957, p = 0.031, respectively). After inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting adjustment using the propensity score for baseline characteristics, chemotherapy almost improved relapse-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.652, 95% confidence interval: 0.433-0.981, p = 0.040; and hazard ratio = 0.657, 95% confidence interval: 0.429-1.004, p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusions Adjuvant chemotherapy improved the prognosis after standard lung cancer surgery in patients aged over 75 years with stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.

The Outcomes of a Limited Resection for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based on Differences in Pathology.

OBJECTIVE: A precise preoperative diagnosis of in situ or minimally invasive carcinoma may identify patients who can be treated by limited resection. Although some clinical trials of limited resection for lung cancer have started, it will take a long time before the results will be published. We have already reported a large-scale study of limited resection. We herein report the data for a subclass analysis according to differences in pathology. METHODS: Data from multiple institutions were collected on 1710 patients who had undergone limited resection (segmentectomy or wedge resection) for cT1N0M0 non-small cell carcinoma. The disease-free survival (DFS) and recurrence-free proportion (RFP) were analyzed. Small cell carcinomas and carcinoid tumors were excluded from this analysis. Adenocarcinomas were sub-classified into four groups using two factors, the ratio of consolidation to the tumor diameter (C/T) and the tumor diameter alone. RESULTS: The median patient age was 64 (20-75) years old. The mean maximal diameter of the tumors was 1.5 ± 0.5 cm. The DFS and RFP at 5 years based on the pathology were 92.2 and 94.7 % in adenocarcinoma (n = 1575), 76.3 and 82.4 % in squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) (n = 100), and 73.6 and 75.9 % in patients with other tumors (n = 35). The prognosis of adenocarcinoma in both groups A (C/T ≤0.25 and tumor diameter ≤2.0 cm) and B (C/T ≤0.25 and tumor diameter >2.0 cm) was good. In SqCC, only segmentectomy was a favorable prognostic factor. In the groups with other pathologies, large cell carcinomas were worse in prognosis (the both DFS and RFP: 46.3 %). CONCLUSION: Knowing the pathological diagnosis is important to determine the indications for limited resection. Measurement of the tumor diameter and C/T was useful to determine the indications for limited resection for adenocarcinoma. Limited resection for adenocarcinomas is similar with a larger resection, while the technique should be performed with caution in squamous cell carcinoma and other pathologies.

Early and late recurrence after intentional limited resection for cT1aN0M0, non-small cell lung cancer: from a multi-institutional, retrospective analysis in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: In 2015, we reported the outcomes of patients undergoing intentional limited resection (ILR) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from a retrospective, multi-institutional large database in Japan. Here, we analyse the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients extracted from this database with late recurrence and compare them with those with early recurrence. METHODS: Of 1538 patients in the database with cT1aN0M0 NSCLC, 92 (6%) had recurrence. In this study, early recurrence was defined as recurrence within 5 years and late recurrence as recurrence beyond 5 years after surgery. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics and post-recurrence survival (PRS) between patients with early and late recurrence. RESULTS: Of the 92 patients with recurrence, 21 (23%) had late recurrence. Compared with the early recurrence group, there were significantly more adenocarcinomas and local recurrences in the late recurrence group (P = 0.04 for both). The 3- and 5-year PRS rates were 53 and 24%, respectively, and the median PRS period was 38 months. There were no significant differences in the PRS curves between patients with early and late recurrence (P = 0.12). Only 3 patients (0.2%) had recurrence more than 10 years after ILR. Of the 21 late-recurrence patients, 17 (81%) had tumours with a consolidation/tumour ratio (CTR) >0.25. CONCLUSIONS: Late recurrence occurred in 21 (23%) of 92 patients with recurrence after ILR for cT1aN0M0 NSCLC. Late recurrence was more likely to involve adenocarcinoma and local recurrence. It is thus considered reasonable to follow patients with a CTR >0.25 for 10 years after ILR.

Survival of 1737 lobectomy-tolerable patients who underwent limited resection for cStage IA non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: A precise preoperative diagnosis of 'very early' lung carcinoma may identify patients who can undergo curative surgery with limited resections. METHODS: Data from a multi-institutional project were collected on 1737 patients who had undergone limited resections (segmentectomy or wedge resection) for T1N0M0 non-small-cell carcinomas. As it was expected, this study was predominantly including ground glass nodules. Computed tomography was used to obtain the ratio of consolidation to the maximal tumour diameter to determine invasive potential of the tumours. Overall and disease-free survivals and recurrence-free proportions were analysed. RESULTS: Median age was 64 years. Mean maximal diameter of the tumours was 1.4±0.5 cm. Overall and recurrence-free survivals after limited lung resection were 94.0 and 91.1% at 5 years, respectively. Recurrence-free proportions were 93.7% at 5 years. Unfavourable prognostic factors in overall survival were lymph node metastasis, interstitial pneumonia, male gender, older age, comorbidities (cardiac disease, diabetes etc.) and consolidation/tumour ratio (C/T)≤0.25. C/T≤0.25 predicted good outcomes especially in cT1aN0M0 disease. In a subclass analysis of cT1N0M0 squamous cell carcinomas, wedge resection was the only unfavourable prognostic factor in both overall and disease-free survivals. CONCLUSIONS: If the patient was 75 years old or younger and was judged fit for lobectomy, limited resection for cStage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed excellent outcomes and was not inferior to the reported results of lobectomy for small-sized NSCLC. The carcinomas with C/T≤0.25 rarely recur and are especially good candidates for limited resection.

Prognostic value of intraoperative pleural lavage cytology for non-small cell lung cancer: the influence of positive pleural lavage cytology results on T classification.

OBJECTIVE: Although positive pleural lavage cytology (PLC) has been demonstrated to be closely associated with a poor prognosis for patients with lung cancer, it has not been incorporated into the TNM staging system of the Union for International Cancer Control. The aim of our study was to retrospectively examine the clinical significance of PLC status and illustrate the recommendations of the International Pleural Lavage Cytology Collaborators (IPLCC) in a large national database. METHODS: The Japanese Joint Committee of Lung Cancer Registry database included 11,073 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent resections in 2004. We extracted the clinicopathologic data for 4171 patients (37.3%) who underwent PLC. These patients were staged according to the seventh edition of the Union for International Cancer Control TNM classification and by recommendations of the IPLCC, in which T was singly upgraded up to a maximum of T4 for those who were PLC-positive. Prognoses based on these 2 systems were compared. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients (5.2%) were PLC-positive, which was significantly associated with a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma and advanced disease. The 5-year survival for patients with positive and negative PLC results were 44.5% and 72.8%, respectively, and this difference in survival was statistically significant (P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that positive PLC status was an independent factor for a poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.57; P < .001). Significant differences in survival were also found between patients with positive and negative PLC results in the same T categories and stages, including T2a, T3, stage IB, and stage IIIA. The IPLCC recommendations adjusted the prognostic differences in all T categories and stages. The significant difference in survival disappeared between the 2 groups in all T categories and stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a T category upgrade is prognostically adequate for patients who are PLC-positive.

Spontaneous whole-lung torsion after massive pleural effusion and atelectasis.

We present a case of whole-lung torsion after massive pleural effusion and atelectasis. A 79-year-old woman with a history of recent pneumonia and pleurisy presented to our hospital and complained of left leg edema and pain that was considered to be vasculitis. A sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan showed that her whole right lung had a 120-degree counterclockwise torsion toward the hilum. We obtained and compared a CT image from the previous doctor. By comparing the CT scans, we determined that lung torsion had progressed gradually. To our knowledge, this is the first report that confirms the progress of whole-lung torsion with CT images.

[Plication of diaphragm for eventration of diaphragm caused by megacolon; report of a case].

A 70-year-old woman with severe respiratory distress was admitted to our hospital by ambulance. Chest X-ray revealed marked elevation of left diaphragm and invagination of megacolon. Colectomy was performed to improve the respiratory distress, but continuous mechanical ventilation was necessary after operation due to hypoxia and hypercapnea. Therefore, plication of diaphragm was additionally performed. With 10 rows of nonabsorbable sutures, 6 to 8 pleats were formed. The following day of operation, she was successfully relieved from the ventilator.

Teratoma with naturally occurring malignant transformation in a child.

We present a 12-year-old girl with a teratoma with malignant transformation (TMT) of the mediastinum. Computed tomography showed a cystic mass (5.0 cm × 4.0 cm) with a thick solid portion, in the anterior mediastinum. Six months later, the solid portion of the mass had enlarged, and surgical resection was performed. The resected tumor was 7.0 × 5.0 × 4.0 cm in size. The cystic portion was a mature teratoma, and the solid portion predominantly comprised a viable embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. There were no immature teratomatous elements or other germ-cell components. The histopathologic diagnosis was a mature teratoma with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a so-called TMT. The tumor recurred, despite adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient died of progressive disease 16 months postoperatively. To the best of our knowledge, no naturally occurring TMT of the mediastinum has previously been reported in a child. Surgical resection at an early stage is necessary.

Surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer in octogenarians--the usefulness of video-assisted thoracic surgery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) confers a survival benefit in octogenarians, and whether video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is effective in terms of postoperative morbidity, mortality, and quality of life (QOL). Among 1684 patients with primary NSCLC who underwent pathologically complete resection, 95 were octogenarians. Operation was performed by the VATS approach (VATS group, n=58) or the standard thoracotomy (ST group, n=37). Although postoperative cardiopulmonary complications occurred in 20 cases (21.1%), all were manageable. In the ST group cardiopulmonary complications occurred more frequently than in the VATS group (P=0.030). The overall 5-year survival rate of the 95 octogenarians, including deaths from all causes, was 54.4%. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients with stage IA disease was 65.2%. These outcome data were not significantly worse than those for patients aged 79 years or under (P=0.136). There was no significant difference in overall 5-year survival rates between the ST group and the VATS group (P=0.144). The VATS approach for pulmonary resection is recommended for octogenarians with NSCLC. Surgical resection is the optimal treatment for stage IA NSCLC, and therefore, advanced age is not a contraindication for curative resection.

Evaluation of the new TNM staging system proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer at a single institution.

OBJECTIVE: The seventh TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours will be published in 2009. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has proposed a revision of the current pathologic staging system. We illustrated the effects of this new system and pointed out potential problems using a retrospective study of surgical cases of non-small cell lung cancer at our institution. METHODS: Subjects were 1532 patients for whom current pathologic staging was possible. These data were migrated into the new staging system. The numbers of patients at various stages determined by using the current and new staging systems were, respectively, as follows: IA (n = 700, n = 700), IB (n = 338, n = 249), IIA (n = 49, n = 164), IIB (n = 129, n = 116), IIIA (n = 204, n = 234), IIIB (n = 77, n = 17), and IV (n = 35, n = 52). Prognoses were compared by using the current and the new systems. RESULTS: By using the new staging system, 5-year survivals by T classifications were as follows: T1a, 82.6%; T1b, 73.3%; T2a, 63.5%; T2b, 50.1%; T3, 40.6%; and T4, 34.6%. There were significant differences between the new T1a and T1b (P = .0026), T1b and T2a (P = .0027), and T2a and T2b (P = .0062) classifications. In the current system 5-year survivals based on pathologic stages were as follows: IA, 84.8%; IB, 72.9%; IIA, 53.8%; IIB, 53.7%; IIIA, 31.8%; IIIB, 34.0%; and IV, 27.1%. There were significant differences between stages IA and IB (P < .0001) and stages IIB and IIIA (P = .0006). In the new system these were as follows: IA, 84.8%; IB, 75.2%; IIA, 62.4%; IIB, 52.1%; IIIA, 32.4%; IIIB, 15.2%; and IV, 30.6%. There were significant differences between stages IA and IB (P = .0004), IB and IIA (P = .0195), IIA and IIB (P = .0257), IIB and IIIA (P = .0040), and IIIA and IIIB (P = .0399). CONCLUSION: Although the outcomes for stages IIIB and IV were reversed, the new pathologic staging system was considered valid based on our single-institution evaluation.

Postrecurrence survival in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative recurrence is a major obstacle to achieving a cure and long-term survival in patients with non-small lung cancer. However, prognostic factors and the efficacy of therapy after recurrence remain controversial. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients with resected lung cancer for postrecurrence prognostic factors. METHODS: Patients who underwent complete resection with systematic lymph node dissection for stage I non-small cell lung cancer were selected. Cases of low-grade malignancy, preoperative therapy, history of previous malignancy or death within 30 days of operation were excluded. A total of 397 patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Out of 87 patients who had recurrence after surgery, 45 had symptoms at the initial recurrence. The initial recurrent site was local in 30 patients and distant in 57. Single-site recurrence was detected in 48 patients and multiple-site recurrence was seen in 39. The recurrent site was the ipsilateral thorax in 49 patients, the contralateral thorax in 32, the cervico-mediastinum in 15, brain in 12 and bone in 11. Surgery was performed in 20 patients, whereas non-surgical therapy was performed in 55 (chemotherapy, 16; radiation therapy, 33; chemo-radiation therapy, 6). Prognostic analysis of factors related to recurrent status demonstrated that symptoms at the initial recurrence, cervico-mediastinal metastasis, liver metastasis and postrecurrence therapy were significant prognostic factors in both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms at the initial recurrence, cervico-mediastinal metastasis and liver metastasis were worse prognostic factors after recurrence. Postrecurrence therapy for the initial recurrence may prolong survival after recurrence.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with a minute malignant component and diaphragmatic vascular supply: report of a case.

We resected a fist-sized, solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) with a minute malignant component, following percutaneous embolization of its feeding artery. The tumor had macroscopic characteristics of a benign SFTP, and most parts of it were microscopically benign. However, further careful pathological examination revealed a minute malignant component in its periphery. We report this case to show that large and mostly benign SFTPs may contain malignant components, which can be overlooked. Thus, large SFTPs should be resected in consideration of this possibility.

Retrospective study of patients with pathologic N1-stage II non-small cell lung cancer.

The population of patients with N1-stage II disease is small among non-small cell lung cancer patients and there have been relatively few studies regarding prognostic factors for the disease. We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological features of the disease to identify prognostic factors. The clinical records of 85 patients with N1-stage II non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy with systematic lymph node dissection or sampling were retrospectively reviewed. The study population comprised 64 men and 21 women, among whom 49 had adenocarcinoma, six had squamous cell carcinoma and two had large cell carcinoma. The prognosis was significantly better for p0 vs. p2-3 disease (P=0.029), pneumonectomy vs. lobectomy (P=0.027) and direct extension vs. metastasis to N1 lymph nodes (P=0.015). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in survival regarding the number or level of the involved lymph node stations. A multivariate analysis for prognostic factors revealed that status of lymph node involvement as well as gender and pleural factor was a significant independent prognostic factor (P=0.026). Our results have revealed that direct extension to N1 lymph nodes is an independent favorable prognostic factor as opposed to metastasis for surgically-treated patients with N1-stage II disease.

Solitary fibrous tumor associated with non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia.

A 79-year-old man presented with abnormal fluttering movements of his extremities early in the morning. Fasting hypoglycemia was believed to be the cause of the movements. A computed tomographic scan showed a large mass in the left inferior hemithorax. Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia was suspected, and the mass was resected while the patient was under glucose supplementation therapy. The plasma glucose level became stable shortly after tumor excision. The resected tumor was diagnosed as a solitary fibrous tumor producing insulin-like growth factor II. In the follow-up examination approximately 2 years after the surgery, no recurrence of the tumor was observed, and the plasma glucose level was stable.

Clinical relevance of intraoperative pleural lavage cytology in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative pleural lavage cytology for patients with lung cancer has been reported to be useful in detecting subclinical pleural dissemination. However, this procedure is not necessary for the staging of lung cancer in the current TNM staging system. METHODS: Clinical records of 1025 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated for the clinical relevance of intraoperative pleural lavage cytology. RESULTS: Specimens of 37 patients (3.6%) were positive for pleural lavage cytology (PLC). Patients were categorized into three groups: positive PLC group, 27 patients with positive PLC without malignant pleural effusion or pleural dissemination; pleural dissemination (PD) group, 21 patients with malignant pleural effusion or PD; negative PLC group, 977 patients with negative PLC or negative PLC without PD. The positive PLC group had a significantly higher ratio of adenocarcinomas than the negative PLC group (p = 0.014). There was a significant difference in distribution of pleural factors between the positive and negative PLC groups (p < 0.001). Survival in the positive PLC group was significantly worse than in the negative PLC group (p = 0.007), especially in pathologic stage I (p = 0.001), but significantly better than in the PD group (p = 0.038). PLC status was found to be a significant independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the clinical relevance of intraoperative PLC in early stage non-small cell lung cancer. The result of intraoperative PLC should be involved in the staging system of lung cancer.

Congenital bronchial atresia associated with spontaneous pneumothorax.

A 36-year-old woman presented with left chest pain and frequent symptoms of upper respiratory infection. Chest roentgenograms revealed a left pneumothorax and apical bulla, and hyperlucency in the left pulmonary field. She was diagnosed with congenital bronchial atresia associated with a left spontaneous pneumothorax. A thoracoscopy-assisted left superior segmentectomy was performed. There was no recurrence of the pneumothorax or symptoms of recurrent upper respiratory infection at the 1-year follow-up examination. Bulla formation was believed to have resulted from emphysematous changes in the peripheral lung due to congenital bronchial atresia. The pneumothorax may have occurred due to rupture of the bulla.

Correlation of FDG-PET findings with histopathology in the assessment of response to induction chemoradiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of FDG-PET to predict the response of primary tumour and nodal disease to preoperative induction chemoradiotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: FDG-PET studies were performed before and after completion of chemoradiotherapy prior to surgery in 26 patients with NSCLC. FDG-PET imaging was performed at 1 h (early) and 2 h (delayed) after injection. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed using the standardised uptake value (SUV) at the primary tumour. Percent change was calculated according to the following equation: [see text]. Based on histopathological analysis of the specimens obtained at surgery, patients were classified as pathological responders or pathological non-responders. The clinical nodal stage on the post-chemoradiotherapy PET scan was visually determined and compared with the final pathological stage. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were found to be pathological responders and eight to be pathological non-responders. SUV(after) values from both early and delayed images in pathological responders were significantly lower than those in pathological non-responders. The percent change values from early and delayed images in the pathological responders were significantly higher than those in the pathological non-responders. The post-chemoradiotherapy PET scan accurately predicted nodal stage in 22 of 26 patients. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET may have the potential to predict response to induction chemoradiotherapy in patients with NSCLC.

Prognostic factors in patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer is classified as an advanced disease stage, with limited indications for surgical treatment. However, the prognosis of patients with pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer is better than that of patients with distant metastases. The purpose of the present study was to analyze and detect possible prognostic factors in surgically treated patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Among 1198 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery at Kurashiki Central Hospital (Okayama, Japan) from April 1982 to March 2004, a total of 48 (4.0%) patients with pathologically diagnosed ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis were retrospectively evaluated. The median follow-up time was 20.5 months (range 1-103 months) and 37 patients (77.1%) were completely followed up until their death or more than 5 years after the operation. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients, 31 (64.6%) patients had metastatic nodules in the same lobe as the primary tumor (PM1) and 17 (35.4%) patients had metastatic nodules in different ipsilateral lobes (PM2). There was no significant difference in survival between patients with PM1 and the other patients with pT4-stage IIIB, or between patients with ipsilateral PM2 and the other patients with stage IV. Univariate analysis of postoperative survival stratified according to clinicopathologic factors revealed significant differences for the radicality of resection (complete vs. incomplete), tumor size (0-30 vs. >30mm) and pathological nodal (pN) factor (among pN0, pN1 and pN2-3). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (0-30 vs. >30mm) and pN factor (pN0-1 vs. pN2-3) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that undergoing a complete resection, having a tumor size of 30mm or less and having no mediastinal lymph node metastases were better prognostic factors for surgically treated patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.

Successful treatment of massive bleeding into the open thoracotomy space by pulmonary artery occlusion: report of a case.

A 69-year-old man underwent decortication and latissimus dorsi muscle transposition for the treatment of chronic empyema in January 2001. The empyema recurred in March 2002, and open drainage was thus started in July 2002. In February 2003, massive hemorrhaging from the thoracic cavity occurred. Tamponade and hemostasis were performed immediately, and angiography revealed bleeding from the pulmonary artery (PA). After identification of the bleeding point, surgical hemostasis was successfully achieved following PA occlusion with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter.