Clifton F. Mountain

Survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

The duration of survival in early-stage lung cancer (stages I and II) varies between reports in the literature. Several reasons account for this: patient population heterogeneity, inconsistent staging, anatomic variability, dissimilar tumor morphology, and unpredictable tumor biology. This report addresses some of the issues in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that relate to variability between estimates of survival in end stage reporting. We review several large series since the introduction of the International Staging System in 1986 and other selected, contemporary reports that address end results in patients with pathologic stage I or stage II lung cancer. Overall survival for patients with pathologic stage I disease is 64.6% (range, 55% to 72%) and 41.2% for patients with stage II disease (range, 29% to 51%). Reducing morphologic differences by placing patients in groups based on the TNM subset and refinement in categorization by matching TNM subsets based on histology and other factors can improve considerably homogeneity and enhance prognostic predictability. The development of more accurate measures for predicting prognosis may serve to clarify the roles of primary and adjuvant treatment, particularly in those patients with early-stage disease associated with poor prognostic factors in whom the potential for long-term survival is reduced.

Prognostic factors in patients with resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer. A report from the Lung Cancer Study Group.

The authors present prognostic information on recurrence and survival for resected Stage I lung cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large cell carcinoma. The data derive from 392 carefully staged patients and include results from the history and physical examination, preoperative laboratory tests, nature of the surgery, complications, initial pathologic findings following surgical resection, and final pathologic review. A simple multivariate model of recurrence, which is used to classify patients into low, intermediate, and high‐risk groups, is based on tumor size and location (T1, T2), histologic type (squamous, nonsquamous/mixed) and nodal status (N0, N1). To model survival, the performance status and the presence of empyema, pneumonia, or wound infection were added to the previous factors. Not all factors associated with increased mortality are associated with increased risk of recurrence, and, in particular, postoperative empyema, pneumonia or wound infections carry an increased risk of death only. Serial measurements of performance status and leukocyte count have the potential for monitoring for increased risk of recurrence and death.

Surgery for Pulmonary Metastasis: A 20-Year Experience

During a recent 20-year period, 556 patients underwent operation for pulmonary metastasis at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston. The surgical mortality was 1.5% for 772 resections. A selection of 443 patients was made to evaluate the contribution of operative intervention as a primary treatment, with selective adjunctive therapy when applicable. The success of a surgical approach is dependent primarily on adherence to selection criteria; it is important that only patients in whom all known disease can be completely removed with the planned resection and who have full control of the primary site are treated. The overall survival for the group was 35%. For patients with carcinoma, survival ranged from 24% for those with primary uterine cervix tumors to approximately 54% for urinary tract, male genital tract, and corpus of uterus primary tumors. In the group with sarcoma, patients with skeletal tumors had a 46.4% survival rate (50.7% for those with osteogenic sarcoma), and 33% of the patients with soft tissue tumors had long-term survival. The outcome for patients with melanoma was poor; only 12.1% survived 5 years. If the original criteria apply, multiple and bilateral lesions can be successfully managed. Patients undergoing planned adjuvant treatment had a superior outcome compared with those not so treated. However, a significant survival advantage was shown only for patients with sarcoma. The failure to control all disease in patients in whom pulmonary metastasis is controlled surgically can only be improved on through the use of systemically active adjuvant treatment.

Five‐year survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for adult soft tissue sarcoma

Determinants of 5‐year survival were evaluated after complete resection of pulmonary metastases from adult soft‐tissue sarcomas. Fifty‐eight patients had complete resection (median survival 25 months, P = 0.0002), with a 25.8% absolute 5‐year survival (15 of 58 patients); six patients had unresectable disease (median survival 6 months) and were excluded from additional analysis. Eleven patients remain disease free, with a median follow‐up of 76 months. Significant independent prognostic indicators associated with improved survival (P < 0.05) included metastasis doubling time of 40 days or greater (median survival 37 months versus 15 months if less than 40 days); unilateral disease on preoperative radiography (33 months versus 15 months if bilateral disease); three or fewer nodules on preoperative computed tomography (40 months versus 14 months if 4 or more nodules); two nodules or fewer resected (40 months versus 17 months if 3 or more nodules resected), and tumor histology (33 months for malignant fibrous histiocytoma versus 17 months for all others). Multivariate analysis identified the number of nodules detected by computed tomography preoperatively as having significant prognostic value.

The international system for staging lung cancer

The International System for Staging Lung Cancer is a consistent, reproducible classification for the anatomic extent of disease in patients with lung cancer. A revision of the system in use since 1986 included modifications of the rules for stage grouping the TNM (T-primary tumor, N-regional lymph nodes, and M-distant metastasis) anatomic subsets. More specific stage categories and consistency for reporting the end results for Stage I, Stage II, and Stage IIIA disease are provided. Survival data support the revised categories and confirm the significant relationship between the extent of the disease and prognosis for patients with this disease.

Expression of Blood-Group Antigen A — A Favorable Prognostic Factor in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND New prognostic factors are needed to guide the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. We evaluated the prognostic value of altered expression of ABH blood-group antigens, which has been implicated in the multistep process of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. METHODS The presence of blood-group antigens was assessed immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 164 patients who underwent curative surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer from 1980 through 1982. Monoclonal antibodies were used to detect the A and B antigens, and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I to detect H antigen. RESULTS Survival of the 28 patients with blood type A or AB who had primary tumors negative for blood-group antigen A was significantly shorter than that of the 43 patients with antigen A-positive tumors (P less than 0.001) and of the 93 patients with blood type B or O (P = 0.002). The respective median survival times were 15, 71, and 39 months. Disease progressed significantly earlier in the 28 patients with tumors negative for blood-group antigen A than in the antigen A-positive patients (P less than 0.001). Expression of blood-group antigen B or H in tumor cells did not correlate with survival. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis showed that expression of blood-group antigen A in tumor cells added significantly to the prediction of overall survival provided by other known prognostic factors among the patients with blood type A or AB (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Expression of blood-group antigen A in tumor cells is an important favorable prognostic factor in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. This variable needs to be considered in the design of future trials of therapy.

Determinants of perioperative morbidity and mortality after pneumonectomy

A total of 197 consecutive patients undergoing pneumonectomy at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1982 to 1987 were reviewed. Sixty-five variables were analyzed for the predictive value for perioperative risk. The operative mortality rate was 7% (14/197). Patients having a right pneumonectomy (n = 95) had a higher operative mortality rate (12%) than patients having a left pneumonectomy (1%, p less than 0.05). The extent of resection correlated with the operative mortality rate (chest wall resection or extrapleural pneumonectomy, n = 39, 15%; versus simple or intrapericardial pneumonectomy, n = 158, 5%; p less than 0.05). Patients whose predicted postoperative pulmonary function, by spirometry and xenon 133 regional pulmonary function studies, was a forced expiratory volume in 1 second greater than 1.65 L, forced expiratory volume in 1 second greater than 58% of the preoperative value, forced vital capacity greater than 2.5 L, or forced vital capacity greater than 60% of the preoperative value had a lower operative mortality rate (p less than 0.05). Atrial arrhythmia was the most common postoperative complication (23%). Xenon 133 regional pulmonary function studies are useful in predicting the risks of pneumonectomy.

Radiation-induced sarcomas of the chest wall†

Sixteen patients are presented who had sarcomas of the chest wall at a site where a prior malignancy had been irradiated. The first malignancies included breast cancer (ten cases), Hodgkins disease (four cases), and others (two cases). Radiation doses varied from 4200 to 5500 R (mean, 4900 R). The latency period ranged from 5 to 28 years (mean, 13 years). The histologic types of the radiation‐induced sarcomas were as follows: malignant fibrous histiocytoma, nine cases; osteosarcoma, six cases; and malignant mesenchymoma, one case. The only long‐term survivor is alive and well 12 years after resection of a clavicular chondroblastic osteosarcoma. Three cases were recently diagnosed. Despite aggressive multimodality treatment, the remaining 13 patients have all died from their sarcomas (mean survival, 13.5 months). All patients have apparently been cured of their first malignancies. Chemotherapy was ineffective. No treatment, including forequarter amputation, appeared to palliate the patients with supraclavicular soft tissue sarcomas. Major chest wall resection offered good palliation for seven of eight patients with sarcomas arising in the sternum or lateral chest wall. Close follow‐up is needed to detect signs of these sarcomas in the ever‐increasing number of patients receiving therapeutic irradiation.

Assessment of the Role of Surgery for Control of Lung Cancer

Abstract When morphologically stratified, the classification of patients according to surgical stage provides an objective basis for evaluating the results of surgical treatment. In a review of 794 patients according to surgical staging criteria, the data supported concepts regarding differences in the behavior of each cell type as well as major differences in survival between each stage of disease. The overall cumulative five-year survival was 37% for squamous cell carcinoma, 27% for adenocarcinoma, and 27% for undifferentiated large cell carcinoma. Fewer than 1% of patients with undifferentiated small cell carcinoma survived. Survival for patients with surgical Stage I disease was 53%, for Stage II 29%, and for Stage III 16%. The results of surgical treatment for patients with limited disease extent are much better than is generally realized. Fifty to 60% of such patients in this series survived five years. Survival studies by surgical stage permit reasonable estimates of the presence of occult metastatic disease and supply insights necessary to the design and appropriate selection of adjunctive therapeutic programs.

Superior sulcus tumors: Treatment selection and results for 85 patients without metastasis (Mo) at presentation

Superior sulcus (Pancoast) tumors (SST) are uncommon carcinomas of the lung with distinctive failure patterns and a somewhat more favorable prognosis than other sites of lung cancer. The most effective use of surgery (S), radiation (R), and chemotherapy (C) is not resolved. Most reported series include patients treated before the era of computed tomography (CT). A retrospective study was undertaken of all previously untreated patients with SST who received definitive management at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between January 1977 and December 1987. Eighty-five patients were treated: the male:female ratio was 2.7:1, and the ages ranged from 35 to 80 (median 59) years. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was 80 or more in 70 patients (82%). Thirty patients (35%) had lost 5% or more body weight. All had histologic or cytologic confirmation of carcinoma: 25% were squamous cell, 2% small cell, 54% adenocarcinoma, and 6% were large cell carcinoma (12% were not classified). After complete evaluation, 43 were classified as clinical Stage IIIA and 42 were Stage IIIB. One Stage IIIA patient received surgery, 13 surgery + radiation therapy, 2 surgery + radiation therapy and chemotherapy, 19 radiation therapy and 8 radiation therapy + chemotherapy. Seven Stage IIIB patients received surgery + radiation therapy, 12 radiation therapy, 2 surgery + radiation therapy + chemotherapy, 17 radiation therapy + chemotherapy and 4 chemotherapy. Surgery was a component of therapy more frequently in Stage IIIA than IIIB (p less than .05) and systemic treatment chemotherapy was used significantly more often (p less than .01) in Stage IIIB. Twenty-six patients (31%) lived 2 years or more (25+ to 131+ months) after treatment. Stage IIIA patients had a 46.5% 2-year survival rate compared to 20.6% for Stage IIIB (p = .0042). The one patient treated with surgery alone lived 2 years; 23% (7/31) of patients who had radiation therapy alone and none of the 4 who had chemotherapy lived 2 years. When surgery was a component of treatment, 52% (13/25) lived 2+ years, compared with 22% (13/60) when surgery was not part of treatment. When radiation therapy was part of treatment 31% lived 2 years and when chemotherapy was used, 18% lived 2 years. Fifty-two patients (61%) had control of the local tumor: their survival was significantly greater (p less than .01) than those who had local failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)