How often segmentectomy is feasible in lung cancer surgery: a population-based evaluation

[Sublobar resection in early-stage NSCLC: towards a new therapeutic standard?]

Until now, the gold standard surgical treatment for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been pulmonary lobectomy with lymph node dissection. However, several cohort studies have suggested that infra-lobar resection may provide equivalent survival while better preserving quality of life and lung function. The results of two prospective randomized phase III studies comparing sublobar resection (segmentectomy or wedge resection) have recently been published. The JCOG 0802 trial focused on cT1a-b NSCLC and showed significantly better survival in the segmentectomy group, but a higher rate of local recurrence. The CALGB 140503 trial involving stage Ia NSCLC showed no difference in survival and recurrence rate between the two groups. Some questions remain unanswered in these studies, particularly in the CALGB 140503 trial where a majority of patients had an atypical resection. Pending clarification, the complexity of this new surgery calls for oncological rigor in terms of indications and technique, as well as compliance with quality criteria.

Complete anatomic segmentectomy shows improved oncologic outcomes compared to incomplete anatomic segmentectomy

OBJECTIVES

To compare oncologic outcomes after segmentectomy with division of segmental bronchus, artery and vein (complete anatomic segmentectomy) versus segmentectomy with division of <3 segmental structures (incomplete anatomic segmentectomy).

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre, retrospective analysis of patients undergoing segmentectomy from March 2005 to May 2020. Operative reports were audited to classify procedures as complete or incomplete anatomic segmentectomy. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy or pulmonary resection beyond indicated segments were excluded. Survival was estimated with Kaplan-Meier models and compared using log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for death. Cumulative incidence functions for loco-regional recurrence were compared with Gray's test, with death considered a competing event. Cox and Fine-Gray models were used to estimate cause-specific and subdistribution HRs, respectively, for loco-regional recurrence.

RESULTS

Of 390 cases, 266 (68.2%) were complete and 124 were incomplete anatomic segmentectomy. Demographics, pulmonary function, tumour size, stage and perioperative outcomes did not significantly differ between groups. Surgical margins were negative in all but 1 case. Complete anatomic segmentectomy was associated with improved lymph node dissection (5 vs 2 median nodes sampled; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed reduced incidence of loco-regional recurrence (cause-specific HR = 0.42; 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.80; subdistribution HR = 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.81), and non-significant improvement in overall survival (HR = 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.43-1.00) after complete versus incomplete anatomic segmentectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

This single-centre experience suggests complete anatomic segmentectomy provides superior loco-regional control and may improve survival relative to incomplete anatomic segmentectomy. We recommend surgeons perform complete anatomic segmentectomy and lymph node dissection whenever possible.

Sublobar resection is not always superior for early-stage lung cancer in high-risk patients

OBJECTIVES

The phase III trial, Japan Clinical Oncology Group 0802, illustrated the superiority of sublobar resection for early-stage lung cancer in terms of overall survival, with more non-lung cancer-related deaths after a lobectomy. The advantages of sublobar resection may be more pronounced in high-risk patients. The goal of this study was to elucidate the prognoses of high-risk patients.

METHODS

Patients with a risk of being ineligible for Japan Clinical Oncology Group 0802 for general conditions were classified as the high-risk group, and those who were not at risk of being ineligible were classified as the normal-risk group. Overall survival and prognostic factors were analysed in the high-risk group.

RESULTS

There were 254 (19.4%) and 1054 patients in the high- and normal-risk groups, respectively. Five-year survival rates were 94.5% and 79.1% in the normal-risk and high-risk groups, respectively (P < 0.001). More patients in the high-risk group died of lung cancer (P < 0.001) and non-lung cancer deaths (P < 0.001) than patients in the normal-risk group.In the high-risk group, 151 lobectomies and 103 sublobar resections were performed. There was no significant difference in the numbers of lung cancer deaths and of non-lung cancer deaths between the procedures. Stratified survival analyses showed that the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide  < 40% tended to favour sublobar resection; being female and having a high carcinoembryonic antigen level tended to favour a lobectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Sublobar resection is not always superior for early-stage lung cancer. Even in such cases, the surgical method should be determined by taking into consideration the patient's background and lung cancer surveillance.

Association between the Preoperative Standard Uptake Value (SUV) and Survival Outcomes after Robotic-Assisted Segmentectomy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

BACKGROUND

Lung-sparing procedures, specifically segmentectomies and wedge resections, have increased over the years to treat early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigate here the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent robotic-assisted segmentectomy (RAS) at an NCI-designated cancer center and aim to show associations between the preoperative standard update value (SUV) to tumor stage, recurrence patterns, and overall survival.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 166 consecutive patients who underwent RAS at a single institution from 2010 to 2021. Of this number, 121 robotic-assisted segmentectomies were performed for primary NSCLC, and a total of 101 patients were evaluated with a PET-CT scan. The SUV from the primary tumor was determined from the PET-CT. The clinical, surgical, and pathologic profiles and perioperative outcomes were summarized via descriptive statistics. Numerical variables were described as the median and interquartile range because all numerical variables were not normally distributed as assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test of normality. Categorical variables were described as the count and proportion. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for association. The main outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were constructed to visualize the OS and RFS, which were also stratified according to tumor histology, the pathologic stage, and standard uptake value. A log-rank test for the equality of survival curves was performed to determine significant differences between groups.

RESULTS

The most common postoperative complications were atrial fibrillation (8.8%, 9/102), persistent air leak (7.84%, 8/102), and pneumonia (4.9%, 5/102). The median operative duration was 168.5 min (IQR 59), while the median estimated blood loss was 50 mL (IQR 125). The conversion rate to thoracotomy in this cohort was 3.9% (4/102). Intraoperative complications occurred in 2.9% (3/102). The median hospital length of stay was 3 days (IQR 3). The median chest tube duration was 3 days (IQR 2), but 4.9% (5/102) of patients were sent home with a chest tube. The recurrence for this cohort was 28.4% (29/102). The time to recurrence was 353 days (IQR 504), while the time to mortality was 505 days (IQR 761). The NSCLC patients were divided into the following two groups: low SUV (<5, n = 55) and high SUV (≥5, n = 47). Statistically significant associations were noted between SUV and the tumor histology (p = 0.019), tumor grade (p = 0.002), lymph-vascular invasion (p = 0.029), viscera-pleural invasion (p = 0.008), recurrence (p < 0.001) and the site of recurrence (p = 0.047). KM survival analysis showed significant differences in the curves for OS (log-rank p-value 0.0204) and RFS (log-rank p-value 0.0034) between the SUV groups.

CONCLUSION

Robotic-assisted segmentectomy for NSCLC has reasonable perioperative and oncologic outcomes. Furthermore, we demonstrate here the prognostic implication of preoperative SUV to pathologic outcomes, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival.

Impact of sex and age on adherence to guidelines in non-small cell lung cancer management

INTRODUCTION

Age-related disparities in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment are well known, but few studies have assessed the impact of sex on treatment disparities. Disparities in guideline-adherence may explain the superior survival in women with NSCLC. Therefore, we aimed to define patient- and tumor-related factors associated with non-adherence to guidelines in NSCLC management with a special focus on sex and age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with NSCLC who received first-line treatment at the Vaasa Central Hospital between 2016 and 2020 were included in the study. The primary outcome was guideline adherence, defined as adherent, undertreatment, or overtreatment considering performance status. A binary logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for non-adherence to treatment guidelines depending on patient- and tumor-related factors.

RESULTS

321 patients were included in the study. Non-adherence was highest in ≥75-year-old women (41.3%), followed by ≥75-year-old men (32.6%), <75-year-old men (27.6%) and lowest in women <75-year-old (19.7%) (p = 0.035). Non-adherent care consisted more often of undertreatment in <75-year-old men than women (26.0% versus 12.1%) and overtreatment in <75-year-old women than men (7.6% versus 1.6%). Non-adherence was associated with stage III disease (aOR 2.21; 95% CI 1.07-4.59), poor pulmonary function (aOR 3.69, 95% CI 1.56-8.71), and Charlson Comorbidity Index 1-2 (aOR 2.09; 95% CI 1.09-4.01).

CONCLUSION

Sex- and age-related disparities in guideline adherence were observed in <75-year-old men and in ≥75-year-olds. Stage III NSCLC was associated with non-adherence.

Effect of adherence to treatment guidelines on overall survival in elderly non-small-cell lung cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

Mean age at diagnosis of lung cancer is increasing with increasing age in Western populations. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of adherence to first-line treatment guidelines on overall survival (OS) in elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and reasons for non-adherence to treatment guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients aged ≥ 65 years diagnosed with NSCLC in Ostrobothnia, Finland, during the years 2016 to 2020 were identified from hospital registries. Adherence of first-line treatment to contemporary treatment guidelines was analysed based on diagnosis, tumour stage and performance status (PS), as was the effect of adherence on OS.

RESULTS

A review of hospital registries identified 238 NSCLC patients aged ≥ 65 years. Guideline adherence by stage decreased significantly with age, with 66.4% of patients aged 65 to 74 years, but only 33.3% of those aged > 80 years treated according to guidelines (p < 0.001). Other factors associated with non-adherence to guidelines included poor PS, frailty, and limited lung function. Of the patients with PS 0-2, 26.9% were under-treated according to guidelines. Reasons for under-treatment included comorbidities, decreased lung function, physician decision to reduce treatment intensity or recommend best supportive care, patient choice and PS decline before treatment initiation. Guideline adherence increased overall OS of elderly NSCLC patients in all stages. Elderly PS 2 patients appear to benefit from guideline adherence and active treatment. In contrast, active treatment did not benefit patients with PS 3-4.

CONCLUSIONS

Guideline adherence was associated with increased OS in elderly NSCLC patients. Almost 10% of elderly and otherwise fit NSCLC patients were not treated according to guidelines and could have benefitted from more intensive treatment.