Is pneumonectomy a justified procedure in patients with persistent N2 nonsmall cell lung cancer disease following induction therapy.

Optimal management and the role of surgery in multimodality treatment for N2 disease nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are controversial. In this review, we focus on the possible role of pneumonectomy as a justified procedure in patients with persistent N2 disease following induction therapy. We have conducted an OVID PubMedbased search including manuscripts published in English for relevant studies. The interpretation of these trials highlights the lack of clarity and consistency in our management and leaves areas of controversy. There are no Level 1 data to support either performing or not performing pneumonectomy in this setting. The majority of the literature reviewed stresses the high risk of mortality and morbidity following pneumonectomy as a part of a trimodality approach to Stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC disease. However, selected highvolume institutions do follow this strategy with the level of risk seemingly justifying it for a highly selected group of patients, and this approach to Stage III/N2 NSCLC can be offered safely with acceptable mortality. Patient selection, response rate to induction therapy, and R0 resection are crucial for survival in experienced centers.

Are we treating enough elderly patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer?

Despite the fact that non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is very common in the older population, these patients are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials evaluating new anti-cancer agents, and thus it is difficult to reach evidence-based recommendations for this special population. The purpose of the present paper is to present the currently available evidence regarding treatment of early-stages of NSCLC in older patients. Although, age is still considered as a negative factor influencing treatment decisions and curative cancer-directed surgery is often omitted in the older population several studies support that surgical resection is feasible in the older patient and that age per se is not a contraindication for various surgical procedures. Pneumonectomy is associated with a higher mortality in the older population and this issue should be taken into account when deciding whether a patient is suitable for pneumonectomy. Older patients should be considered for adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection although little information is available regarding the real benefit and tolerability of these regimens for patients over 75 years of age. Given the lack of demonstrated benefit for the use of adjuvant RT it is also not recommended in older population.