Adjacent lobe invasion of T2 tumor in non-small cell lung cancer has T3 disease-like survival fissure invasion: T2 or T3?

Controversy still exists regarding the staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with adjacent lobe invasion (T-ALI) according to the TNM system in terms of T factor and the appropriate surgical resection method. We performed an analysis to compare the prognosis of T-ALI with T2 and T3 disease and to see the effect of our surgical method for these tumors. Two hundred consecutive patients between January 2012 and November 2020, with anatomical lobectomy for T2 or T3 tumor (Group-1) and non-anatomical lobectomy resection (lobectomy plus wedge resection [LWR]) (Group-2) for T-ALI (T2-ALI and T3-ALI) due to primary NSCLC, who did not have lymph node metastases were analyzed retrospectively. All surgeries were performed by two experienced surgeons who adopted the same surgical technique. Those who underwent additional segmentectomy and bilobectomy due to fissure invasion were excluded from the study. Overall survival rates of all patients were determined and factors affecting survival were evaluated by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. Of the patients with a mean age of 62.2 ± 7.8 years, 175 (87.5%) were male and 25 (12.5%) were female. There were 137 (68.5%) patients in Group 1 and 63 (31.5%) patients in Group 2. The mean tumor size in Group 1 (4.4 ± 1.4 cm) was significantly smaller than that in Group 2 (4.9 ± 1.4 cm) (p = 0.014). When T distribution within the groups was considered, the rate of pathological T3 in Group 1 (33.6%) was significantly lower than that in Group 2 (55.6%) (p = 0.005). While the 5-year overall survival rate was 70.1% in Group 1, it was 50.6% in Group 2 (p = 0.022). When tumors were grouped as T2, T2-ALI, T3, and T3-ALI according to T factor, the 5-year overall survival rates were 71.4% and 67.8% in T2 and T3 tumors, respectively, and 49.2% and 51.5% in T2-ALI and T3-ALI tumors, respectively. In the multivariate analysis of these four groups, the overall survival rates for T2-ALI and T3-ALI were significantly lower than those of T2 tumors (p = 0.046 and p = 0.025, respectively). In the analysis made between the T2 tumor group and the new T3 group (T2-ALI, T3, T3-ALI), which was formed by upgrading T2-ALI tumors to the T3 group, T2 tumors were found to have a significantly better survival rate (p = 0.019). The disease-free survival of pT2 patients and new T3 group patients was statistically significant, 63.7% and 45.7%, respectively (p = 0.050). Our results suggest that LWR for T-ALI can be performed with acceptable oncologic outcomes when compared to anatomical lobectomy. T2-ALI has a worse overall survival than T2 tumor and offers a similar prognosis to T3. Given this situation, it is more appropriate to classify T2-ALI as T3. Further studies based on larger series are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Is adjacent lobe invasion an T category upgrade factor for resected non-small cell lung cancer ≤ 5 cm?

PURPOSE

Controversy exists with regard to the T category of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with adjacent lobe invasion (ALI), and dispute arises on assigning this subset into T2 or T3 category. We evaluated the effect of ALI on the survival of resected NSCLC ≤ 5 cm, with purpose of determining the most appropriate T category for this population.

METHODS

The entire cohort was divided into three subgroups (ALI group, T2 group and T3 group). Kaplan-Meier with log-rank method was carried out to compare overall survival (OS) differences. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to minimize bias.

RESULTS

A total of 12,564 eligible NSCLC cases (ALI group: 114 cases; T2 group: 10,046 cases; T3 group: 2404 cases) were included in this study. The incidence of ALI was about 0.9%. Before PSM, survival analyses demonstrated that no significant OS differences were observed between ALI group and T2 group, and between ALI group and T3 group, neither in the entire cohort analysis nor in the subgroup analysis. After PSM, there were 102 pairs and 98 pairs in the ALI and T2 matching group and ALI and T3 matching group, respectively. In the matched cohorts, survival curves showed that the OS of ALI group was comparable to that of T2 group (P = 0.950), but superior to that of T3 group (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study proposed that NSCLC with ALI ≤ 5 cm should be still categorized as T2 category, which could improve staging accuracy.

Computed tomography-guided microwave ablation for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with and without adjacent lobe invasion: A comparative study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to explore the outcomes of computed tomography-guided microwave ablation (MWA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with adjacent lobe invasion (ALI), and to compare the outcomes of ALI-NSCLC and non-ALI NSCLC patients after MWA.

METHODS

A total of 319 NSCLC patients and 366 tumors treated with MWA were included in the study, comprising 34 ALI-NSCLC patients and 285 non-ALI NSCLC patients. Complications, local recurrence rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation between ALI and the occurrence of pneumothorax after MWA.

RESULTS

The mean tumor diameter of ablated tumors was 3.6 ± 2.2 cm. There were 95 (29.8%) NSCLC patients in which pneumothorax occurred after MWA, and all patients recovered. Of these, the ALI group had a significantly higher incidence rate of pneumothorax than the non-ALI group (52.9% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.002). The median PFS and OS for the ALI group were 12.0 ± 10.2 and 15.5 ± 9.5 months, respectively, and that of the non-ALI group were 13.0 ± 10.6 and 17.0 ± 11.1 months, respectively, and no significant difference was found in PFS (p = 0.329) nor OS (p = 0.394) between the two groups. Local recurrence rates for ALI and non-ALI groups were 29.4% and 20.7%, respectively, and no significant difference was found (p = 0.244). Logistic regression analyses revealed that ALI can increase the risk of pneumothorax (hazard ratio [HR], 2.867; p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

MWA is an effective and safe approach for ALI-NSCLC treatment. Although ALI can increase the risk of pneumothorax, ALI-NSCLC patients reveal a comparable outcome to non-ALI NSCLC patients after MWA.

Accessory and Incomplete Lung Fissures: Clinical and Histopathologic Implications

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews the anatomy, histology, and disease processes of pulmonary fissures, with emphasis on clinical implications of accessory and incomplete fissures.

CONCLUSION

Accessory and incomplete pulmonary fissures are often overlooked during routine imaging but can have profound clinical importance. Knowledge of fissure anatomy could improve diagnostic accuracy and inform prognosis for oncologists, interventional pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.

Surgical treatment of lung cancer with adjacent lobe invasion in relation to fissure integrity

BACKGROUND

Tumor with adjacent lobe invasion (T-ALI) is an uncommon condition. Controversy still exists regarding the optimal resection of adjacent lobe invasion, and the prognostic value in relation to fissure integrity at the tumor invasion point. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the prognosis of T-ALI with regard to fissure integrity, and type of resection.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter study which included all consecutive patients with T-ALI undergoing surgical treatment. Based on radiological, intraoperative and histological findings, T-ALI patients were differentiated into two groups based on whether the fissure was complete (T-ALI-A group) or incomplete (T-ALI-D Group) at the level of tumor invasion point. Clinico-pathological features and survival of two study groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

Study population included 135 patients, of these 98 (72%) were included into T-ALI-A group, and 37 (38%) into T-ALI-D Group. T-ALI-D patients had better overall survival than T-ALI-A patients (63.9 ± 7.0 vs. 48.9 ± 3.9; respectively, P = 0.01) who presented with a higher incidence of lymph node involvement (35% vs. 4%; P = 0.004), and recurrence rate (43% vs. 16%; P = 0.01). At multivariable analysis, T-ALI-D (P = 0.01), pN0 stage (P = 0.0002), and pT≤5 cm (P = 0.0001) were favorable survival prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

T-ALI-D presented a better prognosis than T-ALI-A while extent of resection had no effect on survival. Thus, in patients with small T-ALI-D and without lymph node involvement, sublobar resection of adjacent lobe rather than lobectomy could be indicated.

KEY POINTS

The extent of resection of adjacent lobe had no effect on survival while T-ALI-D, pN0 stage, and pT≤5 cm were significant prognostic factors. In patients with small T-ALI-D and without lymph node involvement, sublobar resection of adjacent lobe could be indicated as an alternative to lobectomy.

Lymph node metastasis outside of a tumor-bearing lobe in primary lung cancer and the status of interlobar fissures: The necessity for removing lymph nodes from an adjacent lobe

The new Tumor Node Metastasis staging system does not recognize fissure status with respect to adjacent lobe invasion (ALI) in lung cancer. Furthermore, no specific surgical strategies have been recommended for lymph node dissections around adjacent nontumor-bearing lobes (NTBLs) according to fissure status. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the necessity of removing additional adjacent lobe lymph nodes in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for lesions limited to in the vicinity of the interlobar fissure.From August 2013 to March 2015, the records of 332 patients, who underwent systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection, were reviewed in this retrospective study. The bronchial lymph nodes had been subjected to pathological examination, and the status of the fissures was also recorded. A statistical analysis was performed to identify the significant predictors of lymph node metastasis.The patients were divided into a nonadjacent lobe invasion (NALI) group (n = 295) and an ALI group (n = 37). There was a significant difference in tumors with pN2 disease between the ALI and NALI groups (37.8% vs 8.8%, P = .001). ALI tumors had significantly more frequent pleural involvement than NALI tumors (62.2% vs 43.1%, P = .035). The frequency of N2 involvement among tumors invading across the complete fissure was higher than that of the tumors invading across the incomplete fissure (44.4% vs 14.3%, P = .015). However, the frequency of N1 involvement among tumors invading across the incomplete fissure was not statistically different than that of tumors not invading across incomplete fissure (32.1% vs 24.2%, P = .357). Regarding lymph node metastasis in NTBL, 15 (12.7%) patients had lymph node metastases in NTBLs. Pleural involvement was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in an NTBL.A greater frequency of N2 lymph nodes existed in NSCLC with invading adjacent lobe across complete fissure, extensive lymphatic resection within the hilum, and NTBL in tumors with pleural involvement are justifiable and necessary.

T category of non-small cell lung cancer invading the fissure to the adjacent lobe

BACKGROUND

Dispute arises in the tumor category of non-small cell lung cancer invading the fissure to the adjacent lobe. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer with such an invasion and to propose an appropriate T category.

METHODS

In total, 53 cases of non-small cell lung cancer invading the fissure to the adjacent lobe (fissure group) were identified in patients who underwent pulmonary resection from 1997 to 2014. Propensity score matching was applied to balance known confounders for prognosis between each paired group, resulting in 3 matched sets (fissure vs T2a, fissure vs T2b, and fissure vs T3). The overall survival of the fissure group was compared with the survival of patients with T2a, T2b, and T3 diseases, as classified in the eighth edition of TNM classification.

RESULTS

The 5-year survivals of the T2a, T2b, T3, and fissure groups were 64.2% (95% confidence interval, 53.2-72.6), 54.6% (95% confidence interval, 44.7-65.8), 35.8% (95% confidence interval, 22.8-44.2), and 38.6% (95% confidence interval, 25.0-52.2), respectively. Specifically, the difference between the fissure group and T2a is statistically significant at P = .01; between the fissure group and T2b at P = .02; and between the fissure group and T3 at P = .93. Multivariate analyses indicate that the fissure group had a similar risk of dying as the T3 disease group (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-1.37) and was at a significantly higher risk compared with the T2a group (hazard ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-3.39) and T2b group (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.76).

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our single-institution study, we propose that non-small cell lung cancer invading the fissure to the adjacent lobe should be further investigated and the impact on patients' prognoses validated as a T3 disease.

Should tumor with direct adjacent lobe invasion (Tdali) be assigned to T2 or T3 in non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The staging of tumor with direct adjacent lobe invasion (Tdali) or interlobar invasion pleural 3 (ILI PL3) in TNM system of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still in controversy. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the prognosis of Tdali with T2 or T3 disease.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant studies. Ln hazard ratio (HR) and its standard error (SE) of each study were estimated in the comparison of overall survival (OS) between Tdali and T2 or T3 respectively. Forest plots were used to show the combined HRs.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis for comparison of OS of Tdali and T2 or T3 disease both showed a significant HR [Tdali versus T2, 1.39 (1.21, 1.61), P<0.000, Tdali versus T3, 0.73 (0.57, 0.93), P=0.01]. Comparisons of OS of Tdali specified to T2 (Tdali-T2) and that of all patients of T2 or T3 disease also both showed significant HRs [Tdali-T2 versus T2, 1.44 (1.23, 1.69), P<0.000, Tdali-T2 versus T3, 0.77 (0.64, 0.94), P=0.008]. When only analyzing the patients with N0 status, those with Tdali-T2N0 compared to the T2N0 group had a HR of 1.79 (1.37, 2.34) (P<0.000). For those with Tdali-T2N0 compared to the T3N0 group, the HR was 0.98 (0.71, 1.35) (P=0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis showed that the prognosis of Tdali is poorer than T2 disease but similar to T3 disease after controlled for T and N status. We suggest that Tdali should be considered to be upgraded to T3. Our work challenges the current staging system regarding staging of Tdali, which might be important evidence of future revision of Tdali staging. As the malignancy of Tdali has been underrated till now, more attention needs to be drawn to proper treatment of Tdali patients.

Results of surgical treatment and impact on T staging of non-small-cell lung cancer adjacent lobe invasion

OBJECTIVES

To assess the results of surgical treatment of T-ALI (adjacent lobe invasion) tumours in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

METHODS

Multicentric retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 13 065 patients, aged 32-89 years (mean 52.9, median 63 years), who underwent resection between January 2009 and September 2014.

RESULTS

In the whole study group, T-ALI was observed in 324 patients (2.5%): 201 patients (62.0%) with a tumour invading the pleura in the inter-lobar fissure (T-ALI-A), and 123 patients (38.0%) with a tumour in the adjacent lobe but without pleural invasion in the fissure (T-ALI-D). With regard to N0 patients, the 3- and 5-year survival rates in the T2 group were significantly higher than that of the T-ALI group (76.1 and 68.4%, P = 0.002 vs 58.3 and 51.0%, P = 0.008, respectively). On the other hand, when the N1 group was analysed, the 5-year survival rates were 54.3 and 48%, respectively (P = 0.041). In the N2 group, the 5-year survival rates in the T2 and T-ALI groups were 40.2 and 35.0%, respectively (P = 0.241). The comparison of the T-ALI and T3 groups for stages N0, N1 and N2 revealed differences in 5-year survival rates as follows: 68.4 vs 62.9% (P = 0.048), 48.0 vs 37.6% (P = 0.08) and 35.0 vs 27.6% (P = 0.121), respectively. In the whole group, the difference in survival rate between T-ALI N0 and T2N0 was statistically significant (P = 0.008) and statistically significant for the T3N0 group (P = 0.048). The 3-year survival rate in the T-ALI N0 group was statistically lower following pneumonectomy than following lobectomy (56.4 vs 61.3%, P = 0.03). The best survival rate was observed following bilobectomy (75.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, a tumour with ALI (T-ALI) represented a separate stage of cancer between T2 and T3. The survival rate in the T-ALI-A group was significantly poorer than that in the T-ALI-D group. Overall treatment results were similar for stage T3, suggesting that it may be necessary to divide this group into T3a and T3b. We would suggest that all tumours between 5 and 7 cm be classified as T3b, and any tumour smaller than 5 cm but with ALI be classified as T3a. Treatment of choice should include lobectomy or bilobectomy. Pneumonectomy should be performed only in a selected group of patients.

High performance liquid chromatography: Tandem mass spectrometric determination of cisplatin levels in different visceral pleura layers of rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the concentration of cisplatin in different layers of the visceral pleura in rats, following drug administration. In this study, a sensitive and specific liquid chromatography method coupled with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was established to investigate the disposition of cisplatin in different layers of the visceral pleura in rats. Methodological data, including specificity, linearity, accuracy, recovery, precision and lower limits of quantification, confirmed that this novel method may be used to efficiently quantify the cisplatin concentrations in visceral pleura of rats following administration of the drug. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the desired drug concentration was not achieved in the outer or inner elastic layers of the visceral pleura following injection with cisplatin through various administration methods.

Staging of lung cancer

Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. Thorough clinical staging of patients with lung cancer is important, because therapeutic options and management are to a considerable degree dependent on stage at presentation. Radiologic imaging is an essential component of clinical staging, including chest radiography in some cases, computed tomography, MRI, and PET. Multiplanar imaging modalities allow assessment of features that are important for surgical, oncologic, and radiation therapy planning, including size of the primary tumor, location and relationship to normal anatomic structures in the thorax, and existence of nodal and/or metastatic disease.

[Place and role of the pleura in non-small cell lung cancer dissemination]

INTRODUCTION

The pleural involvement (PLI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a poor prognosis, even though it might be very heterogeneous.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicentric retrospective descriptive study was performed over 2329 patients who were operated for NSCLC between 1979 and 2010. The patients with PLI were classified in P(Parietal)PLI and V(visceral)PLI and then each subdivided : VPLI to peripheric (VPLI-P) and fissural (VPLI-F) and PPLI to mediastinal (PPLI-M) and costal (PPLI-C). Characteristics and survival were compared between the subgroups as well as with patients without PLI (WPLI, n=1439).

RESULTS

The sex-ratio was 2.8 (males: n=1713). The PLI patients were significantly younger, with a less sex-ratio, less R0 resections (96% versus 98.7%, P=0.000076), and less N0 (60% vs 70%, P<10(-6)) as their 5-year survival (45.7% vs 55.5%, P<10(-6)). The PLI was related to the size of NSCLC (P<10(-6)) and N2 involvement (P=0.0020). It was less frequent after neoadjuvant treatment (36.2% vs 39.1% P=0.03). In the VPLI-F or PPLI-M, pneumonectomies were more frequent (P<10(-6)). In VPLI-P (n=196/561), there were more pN1 and pN2 (P=0.0065) with a 5-year survival of 42.9% vs 54.4%, P=0.013. In multivariate analysis, the PLI was not an independent prognostic factor contrary to age, sex, type of resection, pT and pN.

CONCLUSION

The pleura play a major role in NSCLC dissemination. Its involvement affects pN, the type of surgical resection and justifies the use of neoadjuvant treatment.

Surgical treatment in patient with non-small-cell lung cancer with fissure involvement: anatomical versus nonanatomical resection

OBJECTIVE

Despite the intense debate concerning the prognostic impact of fissure involvement (FI) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, no specific surgical strategies have been yet recommended when this condition occurs. In this setting, we report our monocentric 10-years experience to investigate this issue.

METHODS

From January 2000 to January 2010, the clinical data of 40 non-small-cell lung cancer patients with FI undergoing curative resection were retrospectively reviewed. The sample was stratified according to the type of resection: group A (28 patients): anatomical resection (bilobectomy [21 patients], pneumonectomy [7 patients]); group B (12 patients): nonanatomical resection (lobectomy plus wedge resection [LWR]). The end-points were (1) impact of different surgical approach on the pulmonary function (measured before surgery and 1 month after discharge); (2) disease-specific survival; and (3) tumor recurrence.The t test, χ, and log-rank tests, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox and logistic regression analyses were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

No differences between the two groups were found when comparing the clinical characteristics, histology, pN or pT status, p-stage, residual (R1) disease, tumor grading, or tumor size. Similarly, the baseline preoperative function (tested as forced expiratory volume in 1 second-%-predicted, FEV1%) was likewise comparable (92.5% ± 21.0% in group A versus 85.2% ± 20.0% in group B; p = not significant). The decline of FEV1% after surgery was slightly higher in group A (-24.9% ± 13.5%) when compared with that in group B (-19.5% ± 13.3%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = ns). Nevertheless, the 5-year disease-specific survival was 56% for group A and 47% for group B (p = ns). The recurrence rate did not differ between the patients undergoing a LWR (3 of 12 patients) and those undergoing a bilobectomy or pneumonectomy (9 of 28 patients) (p = ns). The presence of FI extended for more than 3 cm was found to be the most significant prognostic factor when analyzing survival (p = 0.002) and recurrence rate (p< 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that nonanatomical resection (LWR) could be considered as a feasible surgical option (especially in "frail" patients with an extent of FI less than 3 cm) in the light of the similar oncological and functional outcome compared with anatomical resection. Further studies based on larger series are needed to confirm these preliminary data and also to investigate the impact on the postoperative quality of life.