Chest wall invasive non-small cell lung cancer: patterns of failure and implications for a revised staging system.
BACKGROUND
To assess outcomes and patterns of failure for chest wall invasive non-small cell lung cancer (T3 or IIIA NSCLC), data were acquired prospectively on 47 consecutive patients at a single institution over 6 years.


METHODS
Preresectional stagings included bone scan, head and chest/abdominal computed tomography, and mediastinoscopy. There were 25 superior sulcus tumors (radiation and/or chemotherapy followed by resection) and 22 other chest wall invasive NSCLCs (resection alone).


RESULTS
There were no perioperative deaths. Seventeen patients (36%) had an operative complication (median length of stay increased from 7 to 12 days; p < 0.05). A complete pathologic resection was achieved for 44 of 47 patients (94%). The median survival was 38 months (actuarial 2- and 5-year survival rates of 62% and 50%, respectively). Median lengths of survival for superior sulcus and other chest wall tumors were 36 and > 60 months, respectively. Significant univariate predictors of decreased overall and cancer-free survival were poor performance status, positive margins, and positive lymph nodes. Recurrence was observed in 22 of 47 patients (46%) at a median of 8 months (range 2-24); patterns of failure were in the ipsilateral chest (n = 2; 4%) and at a distant site (n = 15; 32%) or both (n = 5; 11%).


CONCLUSIONS
The operative risk for chest wall invasive NSCLC is acceptable, even after neoadjuvant therapy, allowing for a 94% complete resection rate. The survival of this subset of stage IIIA patients may warrant a reappraisal of the international staging system.
Harpole
D H
DH
?12Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Healey
E A
EA
DeCamp
M M
MM
Mentzer
S J
SJ
Strauss
G M
GM
Sugarbaker
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology*; D017211:Treatment Failure