En bloc resection of an extremely giant mediastinal immature teratoma with somatic-type malignancy: A case report with a brief review of the literature.

Primary mediastinum immature teratoma with somatic-type malignant transformation (SM) is extremely rare, and the clinical prognosis is poor. Immature teratoma with SM is difficult to eradicate by chemotherapy due to poor sensitivity; therefore, surgical resection is recommended whenever possible because it may offer better survival.

The prognostic value of 4L lymph node dissection in left-side operable non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

The prognostic value of 4L lymph node dissection (4L-LND) continues to be controversial. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prognosis of 4L-LND in operable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We systematically searched studies from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to May 1, 2023. Studies investigating the prognostic value of 4L-LND and non-4L-LND in NSCLC survival were included. Data for analysis mainly comprised postoperative complications, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). The Q-test and I2-test were used to assess heterogeneity. The stability of pooled hazard ratios (HRs) was examined by sensitivity analysis. Six retrospective studies with a total of 4565 NSCLC patients who received 4L-LND or did not receive 4L-LND were considered. The 4L-LND group had significantly better OS (HR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.91, P = 0.004) and DFS (HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.88, P = 0.0002) than the non-4L-LND group, especially in the subgroup analysis of propensity score matching studies. Although no significant difference in the rate of chest tube drainage for more than 7 days (risk ratio (RR) = 0.98, 95% CI 0.31-3.08, P = 0.97), hoarseness rate (RR = 1.60, 95% CI 0.53-4.87, P = 0.51), and chylothorax rate (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.58-2.84, P = 0.54) was observed, those who received 4L-LND had a higher total postoperative complication rate than those who did not (RR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.67, P = 0.006). No significant heterogeneity existed during our analysis, and no potential publication bias was observed among these studies. Our meta-analysis showed that the 4L-LND group was significantly associated with both survival outcomes and postoperative complications compared with the non-4L-LND group in treating NSCLC patients. However, further prospective clinical trials should be designed to evaluate our conclusion owing to the lack of guideline support.

Wedge Resection vs. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Clinical Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Whether wedge resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has better effectiveness in treatment of clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unclear. Here we conducted the first meta-analysis to directly compare the survival outcomes of clinical stage I NSCLCs treated with wedge resection and SBRT. Methods: We systematically searched studies from PubMed, Embase, and Corchrane Library up to October 1, 2021. Data for analysis mainly included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), which were obtained directly from the text results or calculated from the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. We used the standard random-effect model test (DerSimonian and Laird method) to analyze the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Q-test and I 2-test were used to assess heterogeneity. The stability of pooled HRs was examined by sensitivity analysis. Results: Six retrospective studies with a total of 11,813 clinical stage I NSCLCs who received wedge resection or SBRT were included. The results showed that patients receiving wedge resection had a significantly better OS (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = [1.07, 1.34], P = 0.002) than those with SBRT, but no significant difference of DFS (HR 1.53, 95% CI = [0.83-2.83], P = 0.17) was observed. There was no significant heterogeneity during our analysis, but there may be potential publication bias among these studies. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that clinical stage I NSCLCs treated with wedge resection had superior OS than those treated with SBRT. However, more prospective clinical trials should be well-designed to evaluate the optimal treatment modality of early-stage NSCLCs.

The sequence of pulmonary vessels ligation during lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of ligating the pulmonary vein first or pulmonary artery first during lobectomy on the long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain controversial. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association between different sequences of vessel ligation during lobectomy and the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Literature retrieval was performed by systematically searching Embase, PubMed and Web of Science to identify relevant articles published from the inception of each database to November 2020. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients treated with vein-first ligation versus those treated with artery-first ligation during lobectomy were analyzed. A standard fixed-effect model test (Mantel-Haenszel method) was used to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q-test and I2-test. Sensitivity analysis was performed to further examine the stability of pooled HRs. RESULTS: Five studies with a total of 1109 patients receiving lobectomy, including one randomized controlled trial and four retrospective studies, were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that patients with vein-first ligation had a significantly better OS (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.50; P = 0.02) and DFS (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.16-2.04; P = 0.003) than those with artery-first ligation during lobectomy. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias were not observed during analysis. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicates that vein-first ligation may improve the prognosis of NSCLC patients receiving lobectomy. Therefore, vein-first ligation is recommended during lobectomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer whenever possible.

Does sarcopenia have any impact on survival of patients with surgically treated non-small-cell lung cancer?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Does sarcopenia have any impact on survival of patients with surgically treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?'. Altogether, 342 papers were found using the reported search, of which 9 cohort studies represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Eight of the studies measured skeletal muscle or total psoas cross-sectional area at the level of the first or third lumbar vertebra normalized for the square of height for defining sarcopenia, while 1 study used absolute measurement of total psoas cross-sectional area. Seven of 8 studies looking at overall survival found that patients with sarcopenia had significantly worse overall survival than those without after surgical resection of NSCLC, while 1 failed to show a difference. Five studies reported disease-free survival, with 3 studies showing no difference and 2 showing that patients with sarcopenia had a significantly worse disease-free survival than those without. One study found that sarcopenia was a predictor of early recurrence in NSCLC patient after surgical resection. Therefore, we conclude that sarcopenia could serve as a predictor of poor prognosis of patients with surgically treated NSCLC.

Diabetes mellitus and survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients after surgery: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common comorbidities in surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and has a negative impact on short-term outcomes. However, the impact of DM on long-term survival of such patients remains controversial; therefore, we conducted a comprehensive updated meta-analysis. METHODS: We systematically searched relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to 6 September 2018. Hazard ratios (HRs) for the impact of DM on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with surgically treated NSCLC were extracted and analyzed using the STATA 12.0 package. RESULTS: We included 13 cohort studies consisting of 4343 patients (730 patients with DM and 3613 patients without) with surgically treated NSCLC. Meta-analysis showed that patients with DM had significantly poorer OS (random effects: HR 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.60; P = 0.016) than those without. However, with a limited sample size, there was no significant difference in RFS (random effects: HR 1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.71-1.58; P = 0.786) between patients with and without DM after surgical resection of NSCLC. CONCLUSION: DM is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with surgically treated NSCLC. High-quality studies with appropriate adjustment for confounding factors are needed to confirm our conclusions.

Sarcopenia is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer after surgical resection: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Whether sarcopenia has any impact on long-term survival of patients with surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis focusing on current topic comprehensively for the first time. METHODS: We systematically searched relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to July 3, 2018. Data of 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates as well as hazard ratio (HR) of OS were collected for analysis by using the STATA 12.0 package. RESULTS: A total of 6 cohort studies consisting of 1213 patients (422 patients with sarcopenia and 791 patients without) were included for analysis. Meta-analysis showed that patients with sarcopenia had a significantly lower 5-year OS rate (risk ratio (RR) = 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.13, 2.33]; P = 0.008) than those without, which was more prominent in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Sarcopenia was found to be an independent predictor of poor OS in patients with surgically treated NSCLC (HR = 2.85; 95%CI = [1.67, 4.86]; P < 0.001). With a limited sample size, there was no sufficient evidence of significantly different 5-year DFS rate between the two groups (RR = 1.14; 95%CI = [0.59, 2.17]; P = 0.70). However, in the subgroup of patients with early-stage NSCLC, sarcopenia was associated with a significantly lower 5-year DFS rate (RR = 1.59; 95%CI = [1.01, 2.52]; P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Patients with sarcopenia had a significantly worse prognosis than those without after surgical resection of NSCLC especially in those at early stage. Sarcopenia is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with surgically treated NSCLC. (246 words).

Preoperative sarcopenia is a predictor of poor prognosis of esophageal cancer after esophagectomy: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

The impact of preoperative sarcopenia on long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy remains unclear. We conducted an updated meta-analysis focusing on current topic comprehensively. We systematically searched relevant studies investigating the impact of preoperative sarcopenia on survival of patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to July 20, 2018. Data of 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates as well as hazard ratio (HR) of OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were collected for analysis by using the STATA 12.0 package. Finally, a total of 11 cohort studies consisting of 1520 patients (795 sarcopenic patients and 725 nonsarcopenic patients) were included for analysis. Our meta-analysis showed that patients with sarcopenia had a significantly lower 3-year (51.6% vs. 65.4%, P < 0.001) and 5-year OS rate (41.2% vs. 52.2%, P = 0.018) than those without sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was found to be an independent predictor of poor OS (HR = 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.35, 1.85]; P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.46; 95% CI = [1.12, 1.90]; P = 0.005) in esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy. No obvious heterogeneities or publication bias were observed during analysis. Therefore, patients with sarcopenia had a significantly worse prognosis than those without after surgical resection of esophageal cancer. Preoperative sarcopenia is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy. However, high-quality studies with appropriate adjustments for confounding factors are needed to confirm our conclusions.