title: A pooled exploratory analysis of the effect of tumor size and KRAS mutations on survival benefit from adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy in node-negative non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The staging of node-negative non-small-cell lung cancer is modified in the 7th edition TNM classification. Here, we pool data from the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group JBR.10 trial and the Cancer and Leukemia Group B-9633 trial to explore the prognostic and predictive effects of the new T-size descriptors and KRAS mutation status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Node-negative patients were reclassified as T2a (>3-≤5 cm), T2b (>5-≤7 cm), T3 (>7 cm) or T ≤ 3 cm (≤3 cm, but other T2 characteristics).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 538 eligible patients, 288 (53.5%) were T2a, 111 (21%) T2b, 62 (11.5%) T3, whereas 77 (14%) T≤3 cm were excluded to avoid confounding. KRAS mutations were detected in 104 of 390 patients (27%). T-size was prognostic for disease-free survival (p = 0.03), but borderline for overall survival (OS; p = 0.10), on multivariable analysis. Significant interaction between the prognostic value of KRAS and tumor size was observed for OS (p = 0.01), but not disease-free survival (p = 0.10). There was a nonsignificant trend (p = 0.24) for increased chemotherapy effect on OS with advancing T-size (hazard ratio [HR] T2a 0.90, [0.63-1.30]; T2b 0.69, [0.38-1.24]; and T3 0.57, [0.28-1.17]). The HR for chemotherapy effect on OS in T2a patients with KRAS wild-type tumors was 0.81 (p = 0.36), whereas a trend for detrimental effect was observed in those with mutant tumors (HR 2.11; p = 0.09; interaction p = 0.05). Similar trends were observed in T2b to T3 patients with wild-type (HR 0.86; p = 0.62), and KRAS mutant tumors (HR 1.16; p = 0.74; interaction p = 0.58).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy effect seems to increase with tumor size. However, this small study could not identify subgroups of patients who did or did not derive significant benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy based on T-size or KRAS status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuffe
authors.forename: Abderrahmane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bourredjem
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pignon
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domerg
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ezzalfani
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strevel
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burkes
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capelletti
authors.forename: Pasi A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jänne
authors.forename: Ming-Sound
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Frances A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Shepherd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins