Introduction
In the search of new therapeutical strategies against non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the identification of new prognostic factors is crucial.
Objectives
In this study, we analyzed ...the prognostic value of the liver X receptor‐alpha (LXR‐alpha), a nuclear receptor of a family of cholesterol derivatives called oxysterols, in patients with radically resected NSCLC.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 140 stage II and III surgically treated NSCLC patients that were grouped by percentage of LXR‐alpha‐positive cells value above or below its median value. Tumor‐related survival was evaluated as primary end point.
Results
The 5‐year overall and tumor‐related survival rates were 40% and 46%, respectively. The median percentage of LXR‐alpha‐positive cells was 20%. Patients with stage II NSCLC had higher LXR‐alpha values than those with stage III (P = .04). Univariate analysis demonstrated that both TNM stage and LXR‐alpha were significantly related to tumor‐related survival (P = .006 and P = .004, respectively). The 5‐year tumor‐related survival rates in stage II and III NSCLC were 56% and 34%, respectively. The 5‐year tumor‐related survival rates in high and low LXR‐alpha value were 57% and 32%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that both TNM stage and LXR‐alpha were independent prognostic factors (P = .01 and P = .007, respectively) with hazard ratio of 1.92 and 0.49, respectively.
Conclusion
LXR‐alpha seems to be an independent prognostic factor indicating a better survival in completely resected stage II and III NSCLC patients.
Vascular injuries are among the most severe causes of unplanned conversion during VATS lobectomies. The study aimed to analyse the incidence of vascular injuries and their risk factors during VATS ...lobectomy.
The Italian VATS lobectomy Registry was used to collect data from 66 Thoracic Surgery Units. From 2013 to October 2016 (out of more than 3,700 patients enrolled) only information from Units with an enrollment >100 VATS lobectomies were retrospectively analysed. Logistic regression analysis was performed on selected variables of the univariate analysis.
Ten institutions contributed a total of 1,679 patients. Vascular injuries leading to conversion occurred in 44 (2.6%) patients. Years of experiences were inversely related to the risk of vascular injuries. Univariate analysis showed age, gender, surgical activity, Charlson Index Score and number of resected lymph nodes like significantly associated variables. Multivariate analysis revealed that number of resected lymph nodes, VATS experience ratio (number of VATS lobectomies/total lobectomies performed in the same year at same centre), and surgical activity of the centre were significantly associated with the risk of conversion. Unplanned thoracotomy was correlated with postoperative morbidity.
Vascular injuries in VATS lobectomies represented a rare complication which could directly affect the postoperative outcomes. The predictive factors for conversion were multifactorial and depended on characteristics of centres and surgeons’ seniority. Minimally invasive VATS lobectomy approaches did not influence the risk of vascular damages.
Thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS-L) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a well-established option for early stage NSCLC, but the evidences are limited for octogenarians.
The objectives of this ...multi-institutional study were to evaluate the post-operative outcomes of VATS-L in octogenarians and to estimate the post-operative quality of life (QoL) using a validated questionnaire (EuroQoL5D).
Data from patients underwent VATS-L between 2014 and 2019 were analysed and divided into two groups: Group A (younger patients) and Group B (octogenarians). To define predictors for complications, univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed.
7023 patients underwent VATS-L and 329 (4.6%) were octogenarians. 30-day and 90-day post-operative mortality were similar (0.95% vs 0.91%, p = 0.84 and 1.3% vs 1.2%, p = 0.58), whereas the percentage of patients who suffered from any complication (25.5% vs 31.9%, p = 0.012) and the complication rate (31.6% vs 45.2%, p=<0.01) were higher for octogenarians. At discharge, the values of EuroQoL5D were worse in group B, but after one month these levels became similar. Age >80 years had a significant influence on morbidity on both univariate and multivariable analyses (p = 0.025).
VATS-L for NSCLC can be performed in selected octogenarians without increased risk of post-operative death, acceptable not-life-threatening complications and a moderate impact on QoL.
•What are the outcomes thoracoscopic lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer?•What is the impact of VATS-lobectomy on Quality of Life (QoL) in octogenarian patients?•Post-operative complications were significantly more frequent, but not life-threatening.•Levels of QoL were worse for elderly patients, but after a month these levels became similar.•VATS-lobectomy can be safely performed in selected octogenarians, without worsening their QoL.
The Italian VATS Group database was accessed to evaluate whether preoperative and intraoperative factors may affect the safety of lymphadenectomy (LA) during video-assisted thoracic surgery ...lobectomy.
All video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy procedures performed between 1 January 2014 and 30 March 2017 for non-small-cell lung cancer with cN0 or cN1 disease were identified in the database. LA safety was evaluated based on intraoperative (operative time, bleeding and conversion rate) and postoperative (30-day morbidity and mortality, chest drain duration and length of stay) outcomes and was correlated with the number of resected lymph nodes and the rates of nodal upstaging. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation and compared using the unpaired t-test; the χ2 test was used for categorical variables. Univariable analysis was performed on selected variables. Significant variables (P < 0.30) were entered into a Cox multivariable logistic regression model, using the overall and specific occurrence of complications as dependent variables. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied as needed.
A total of 3181 cases (2077 men, 65.3%; mean age of 69 years) met the enrolment criteria. Final pathology was consistent with adenocarcinoma (n = 2262, 67.5%), squamous cell (n = 520, 15.5%), typical (n = 184, 5.5%) and atypical carcinoid (n = 48, 1.4%) and other (n = 335, 10%). The mean number of resected lymph nodes was 13.42 ± 8.24; nodal upstaging occurred in 308 of 3181 (9.68%) cases. Six hundred and fifty-five complications were recorded in 404 (12.7%) patients; in this series, no mortality was observed. Univariable and multivariable analyses did not show any association between the extension of LA and intraoperative or postoperative outcomes. The number of resected lymph nodes and nodal upstagings showed a minimal correlation with intraoperative outcomes and a moderate correlation with postoperative air leak (ρ = 0.35 and ρ = 0.48, respectively), arrhythmia (ρ = 0.29 and ρ = 0.35, respectively), chest drain duration (ρ = 0.35 and ρ = 0.51, respectively) and length of stay (ρ = 0.35).
Based on the VATS Group data, video-assisted thoracic surgery LA proved to be safe and displayed good outcomes even when performed with an extended approach.
The deeper knowledge of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) biology and the discovery of driver molecular alterations have opened the era of precision medicine in lung oncology, thus significantly ...revolutionizing the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to NSCLC. In Italy, however, molecular assessment remains heterogeneous across the country, and numbers of patients accessing personalized treatments remain relatively low. Nationwide programs have demonstrated that the creation of consortia represent a successful strategy to increase the number of patients with a molecular classification.
The Alliance Against Cancer (ACC), a network of 25 Italian Research Institutes, has developed a targeted sequencing panel for the detection of genomic alterations in 182 genes in patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC (ACC lung panel). One thousand metastatic NSCLC patients will be enrolled onto a prospective trial designed to measure the sensitivity and specificity of the ACC lung panel as a tool for molecular screening compared to standard methods.
The ongoing trial is part of a nationwide strategy of ACC to develop infrastructures and improve competences to make the Italian research institutes independent for genomic profiling of cancer patients.
Improving the quality of lung cancer care at a cost that can be sustained is a hotly debated issue. High-risk, low-volume procedures (such as lung resections) are believed to improve significantly ...when centralised in high-volume centres. However, limited evidence exists to support volume requirements in lung cancer surgery. On the other hand, there was no evidence that the number of lung resections affected either the short-term perioperative results or the long-term cost. Using data from an extensive nationwide registry, this study investigated the correlations between surgical volumes and selected perioperative outcomes. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively filled national registry that follows stringent quality assurance and security procedures was conducted to ensure data accuracy and security. Patients who underwent VATS lobectomy from 2014 to 2019 at the participating centres were included. Selected perioperative outcomes were reported. Total direct hospital cost is measured at discharge for hospitalisations with a primary diagnosis of lung cancer, hospital stay costs, and postoperative length of hospital stay after lobectomy. After the propensity score matched, centres were divided into three groups according to the surgical volume of the unit where VATS lobectomies were performed (high-volume centre: > 500 lobectomies; medium-volume centre: 200-500 lobectomies; low-volume centre: < 200 lobectomies). 11,347 patients were included and matched (low-volume center = 2890; medium-volume center = 3147; high-volume center = 2907). The mean operative time density plot (Fig. 1A) showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.67). In contrast, the density plot of the harvested lymph nodes (Fig. 1B) showed significantly higher values in the high-volume centres (p = 0.045), albeit without being clinically significant. The adjusted rates of any and significant complications were higher in the low-volume centre (p = 0.034) without significantly affecting the length of hospital stay (p = 0.57). VATS lobectomies for lung cancer in higher-volume centres seem associated with a statistically significantly higher number of harvested lymph nodes and lower perioperative complications, yet without any significant impact in terms of costs and resource consumption. These findings may advise the investigation of the learning curve effect in a complete economic evaluation of VATS lobectomy in lung cancer. Fig. 1 The mean operative time density plot showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.67).
OBJECTIVES
To analyse clinical and biomolecular prognostic factors associated with the surgical approach and the outcome of 247 patients affected by primary atypical carcinoids (ACs) of the lung in a ...multi-institutional experience.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated clinical data and pathological tissue samples collected from 247 patients of 10 Thoracic Surgery Units from different geographical areas of our country. All patients were divided into four groups according to surgical procedure: sub-lobar resections (SURG1), lobar resections (SURG2), tracheobronchoplastic procedures (SURG3) and pneumonectomies (SURG4). Overall survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Survival was calculated from the date of surgery to the last date of follow-up or death. The parameters evaluated included age, gender, smoking habits, laterality, type of surgery, 7th edition of TNM staging, mitosis Ki-67 (MIB1), multifocal forms, tumourlets, type of lymphadenectomy and neo/adjuvant therapy. For multivariate analysis, a Cox regression model was used with a forward stepwise selection of covariates.
RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-seven patients (124 females and 123 males; range 10-84, median 60 years) underwent surgical resection for AC in the last 30 years as follows: n = 38 patients in SURG1, 181 in SURG2, 15 in SURG3 and 14 in SURG4. A smoking history was present in 136 of 247 (55%) patients. The median follow-up period was 98.7 (range 11.2-369.9) months. The overall survival probability analysis of the AC was 86.7% at 5 years, 72.4% at 10 years, 64.4% at 15 years and 58.1% at 20 years. Neuroendocrine multicentric forms were detected in 12 of 247 patients (4.8%; 1 of 12 pts) during the follow-up (range 11.2-200.4, median 98.7 months) and 33.4% had recurrence of disease. There were no significant differences between gender, tumour location and type of surgery at the multivariate analysis. Age P < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) 0.60; confidence interval (CI) 0.32-1.12, smoking habits (P = 0.002; HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.80) and lymph nodal metastatic involvement (P = 0.008; HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.82) were all significant at multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
ACs of the lung are malignant neuroendocrine tumours with a worst outcome in patients over 70 years and in smokers. With the exception of pneumonectomy, the extent of resection does not seem to affect survival and should be accompanied preferably by lymphadenectomy. Pathological staging, along with a mitotic index more than Ki-67 (MIB1), appears to be the most significant prognostic factor at the univariate analysis.
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