Predictive factors and prognosis of microscopic residual disease in non-small-cell lung cancer surgery

Abstract

Objectives: We described patients with microscopic residual disease (R1) operated on for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigated predictive factors for R1. We also examined prognostic factors for overall survival in these patients.

Methods: From June 2003 to December 2019, a total of 2595 patients benefited from an anatomical resection operation for NSCLC in our department. All preoperative data were prospectively collected in Epithor, the French thoracic surgery national database. All pre-, per- and postoperative care followed the current recommendations. Tumours were classified by experienced pathologists according to the TNM classification and the resection status R. Survival information was collected retrospectively using the French national death register.

Results: A total of 94 R1 patients (3.6%) and 2255 R0 patients (86.9%) were identified. R1 patients showed significant differences: They were older (p = 0.02), with a high rate of pneumonectomy(p < 0.001), more squamous cell carcinomas (p < 0.001) and more cases of advanced-stage disease (p < 0.001). We proved that incomplete resection was a poor and independent prognostic factor whereas complete resection had a significant impact on overall survival (HR: 4.66 [3.46-6.27]). Thus, we identified high clinical T status (odds ratio [OR]: 8.82 [5.00-15.56]), high clinical N status (OR: 3.54 [2.13-5.87), squamous cell carcinoma (OR: 3.86 [2.33-6.42]), obesity (OR 1.91 [1.04-3.52]) and low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (OR: 3.62 [1.70-7.68]) as risk factors for R1. No statistical differences were found according to the location of positive resection margin or treatment, whether adjuvant or neoadjuvant.

Conclusions: Incomplete resection was a poor prognostic factor for overall survival of patients operated on for NSCLC, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease. Identification of different predictive factors should help to avoid this situation.subj collection: 152.

Keywords: lung cancer surgery; microscopic residual disease; resection.