Ramón Rami-Porta

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: Proposals for the Revision of the TNM Stage Groupings in the Forthcoming (Seventh) Edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours

Introduction: The seventh edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors is due to be published early in 2009. In preparation for this, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer established its Lung Cancer Staging Project in 1998. The recommendations of this committee for changes to the T, N, and M descriptors have been published. This report contains the proposals for the new stage groupings. Methods: Data were contributed from 46 sources in more than 19 countries. Adequate data were available on 67,725 cases of non-small cell lung cancer treated by all modalities of care between 1990 and 2000. The recommendations for changes to the T, N, and M descriptors were incorporated into TNM subsets. Candidate stage groupings were developed on a training subset and tested in a validation subset. Results: The suggestions include additional cutoffs for tumor size, with tumors >7 cm moving from T2 to T3; reassigning the category given to additional pulmonary nodules in some locations; and reclassifying pleural effusion as an M descriptor. In addition, it is suggested that T2b N0 M0 cases be moved from stage IB to stage IIA, T2a N1 M0 cases from stage IIB to stage IIA, and T4 N0–1 M0 cases from stage IIIB to stage IIIA. Conclusions: Such changes, if accepted, will involve a reassessment of existing treatment algorithms. However, they are based on an intensive and validated analysis of the largest database to date. The proposed changes would improve the alignment of TNM stage with prognosis and, in certain subsets, with treatment.

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: Proposals for the Revisions of the T Descriptors in the Forthcoming Eighth Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer

Purpose: To analyze all nonlymphatic metastatic components (T4 and M1) of the current TNM system of lung cancer, with the objective of providing suggestions for the next edition of the TNM classification for lung cancer. Material and Methods: Data on 100,809 patients were submitted to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer International Database. Of these, 5592 selected T4M0 and M1 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the analysis. Specific categories of clinically staged T4 (lesions not continuous with the primary tumor) and M1 cases were compared with respect to overall survival using Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and comparisons via Cox regression analysis. Relevant findings were validated internally by geographic area and type of database and were validated externally by the North American Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Registries. Results: Median survival for cT4M0 with malignant pleural effusion was significantly worse than that of other cT4M0 patients (8 months versus 13 months) and was more comparable with M1 cases with metastases to the contralateral lung only (10 months). M1 cases with metastases outside the lung/pleura had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with metastases confined to the lung, with a median survival of 6 months. Conclusions: Revisions to the TNM classification system for lung cancer should include grouping cases with malignant pleural effusions and cases with nodules in the contralateral lung in the M1a category, and cases with distant metastases should be designated M1b. In addition, cases with nodule(s) in the ipsilateral lung (nonprimary lobe), currently staged M1, should be reclassified as T4M0, in accordance with the recommendations of the T descriptor subcommittee of the IASLC international staging committee.

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: A Proposal for a New International Lymph Node Map in the Forthcoming Seventh Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer

The accurate assessment of lymph node involvement is an important part of the management of lung cancer. Lymph node “maps” have been used to describe the location of nodal metastases. However, discrepancies in nomenclature among maps used by Asian and Western countries hinder analyses of lung cancer treatment outcome. To achieve uniformity and to promote future analyses of a planned prospective international database, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer proposes a new lymph node map which reconciles differences among currently used maps, and provides precise anatomic definitions for all lymph node stations. A method of grouping lymph node stations together into “zones” is also proposed for the purposes of future survival analyses.

The IASLC lung cancer staging project: Proposals for the inclusion of broncho-pulmonary carcinoid tumors in the forthcoming (seventh) edition of the TNM classification for lung cancer

Objective: In the 2003 Supplement for tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) Staging classification it states that TNM staging “applies to all types of carcinoma including small cell carcinoma; however, it does not apply to carcinoids.” Despite this caveat, most publications on typical and atypical carcinoids use the TNM staging system for nonsmall cell carcinoma and are able to demonstrate prognostic significance for the different stages. For this reason, as the next TNM Staging proposal is being considered, we sought to investigate the carcinoid cases submitted to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) database, as well as the National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER). Materials and Methods: In the data collected for the IASLC Staging Project database over the time period 1990 to 2000, there were 513 broncho-pulmonary carcinoids. A total of 1619 broncho-pulmonary carcinoid cases diagnosed over the period 1990–2002 were analyzed from the SEER database, including 1437 surgical cases. Pathologic slides were not available for histologic review. Results: Most of tumors in both the IASLC and SEER databases were Stage I (82% and 78%, respectively), as defined by the IASLC proposals for the 7th edition of TNM staging system. T status was a statistically significant predictor of survival for both the SEER data (p < 0.0001) and the IASLC database (p = 0.0156), though for different reasons. N status showed significant survival correlations in both data sets (p < 0.0001). The effect of M status was significant (p < 0.0001) within the SEER data and not studied in the IASLC cases, which were almost exclusively M0. We found that all three T, N, and M categories as defined for non-small cell lung cancer are generally useful for staging of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. Significant differences in survival for overall stages I versus II versus III/IV were identified in both data sets. Patients with multiple same lobe nodules had a 100% 5-year survival, which may be a reason to reevaluate their status in the IIB category in future analyses. Conclusions: In summary, the IASLC proposals for the 7th edition of TNM are helpful in predicting prognosis for broncho-pulmonary carcinoid tumors. It is the recommendation of the IASLC Staging project that TNM be applied to broncho-pulmonary carcinoid tumors. A prospective collection of data through an International Registry of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors planned by the IASLC will allow for further detailed analysis of staging data for broncho-pulmonary carcinoids.

Revised ESTS guidelines for preoperative mediastinal lymph node staging for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Accurate preoperative staging and restaging of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with potentially resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is of paramount importance. In 2007, the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) published an algorithm on preoperative mediastinal staging integrating imaging, endoscopic and surgical techniques. In 2009, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) introduced a new lymph node map. Some changes in this map have an important impact on mediastinal staging. Moreover, more evidence of the different mediastinal staging technique has become available. Therefore, a revision of the ESTS guidelines was needed. In case of computed tomography (CT)-enlarged or positron emission tomography (PET)-positive mediastinal lymph nodes, tissue confirmation is indicated. Endosonography [endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS)/esophageal ultrasonography (EUS)] with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is the first choice (when available), since it is minimally invasive and has a high sensitivity to rule in mediastinal nodal disease. If negative, surgical staging with nodal dissection or biopsy is indicated. Video-assisted mediastinoscopy is preferred to mediastinoscopy. The combined use of endoscopic staging and surgical staging results in the highest accuracy. When there are no enlarged lymph nodes on CT and when there is no uptake in lymph nodes on PET or PET-CT, direct surgical resection with systematic nodal dissection is indicated for tumours ≤ 3 cm located in the outer third of the lung. In central tumours or N1 nodes, preoperative mediastinal staging is indicated. The choice between endoscopic staging with EBUS/EUS and FNA or video-assisted mediastinoscopy depends on local expertise to adhere to minimal requirements for staging. For tumours >3 cm, preoperative mediastinal staging is advised, mainly in adenocarcinoma with high standardized uptake value. For restaging, invasive techniques providing histological information are advisable. Both endoscopic techniques and surgical procedures are available, but their negative predictive value is lower compared with the results obtained in baseline staging. An integrated strategy using endoscopic staging techniques to prove mediastinal nodal disease and mediastinoscopy to assess nodal response after induction therapy needs further study.

Visceral Pleural Invasion: Pathologic Criteria and Use of Elastic Stains: Proposal for the 7th Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer

Objective: To define the anatomic extent of visceral pleural invasion (VPI) and to assess whether elastic stains are useful to determine VPI in lung cancer. The elastic layer of the visceral pleura is not mentioned in the current International Union Against Cancer or American Joint Committee on Cancer staging documents. Methods: A Pub Med search (www.pubmed.gov) of the National Library of Medicine was made for all articles published between 1970 and 2007 in humans under the search terms lung cancer and pleural invasion. These were reviewed for data regarding the pathologic classification of extent of pleural invasion including the use of elastic stains in this assessment. Results: Six articles that addressed reported survival data using elastic stains to assess for VPI were reviewed. These articles defined P0 (T1) as lack of pleural invasion beyond the elastic layer, P1 (T2) as invasion beyond the elastic layer, P2 (T2) as invasion to the surface of the visceral pleura and P3 (T3) as invasion of the parietal pleura. In five studies, survival was shown to be significantly worse for VPI defined as P1 or P2 compared with P0. Conclusions: Based on the currently available data, we propose that the next tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) revision by International Union Against Cancer and American Joint Committee on Cancer define VPI as invasion beyond the elastic layer (PL1) including invasion to the visceral pleural surface (PL2). The abbreviation PL for pleura is recommended rather than P to avoid confusion with the existing use of p (pathologic) TNM in distinction from c (clinical) TNM. We also recommend that elastic stains be used in cases when the distinction between PL0 and PL1 is not clear based on evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin sections.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Lung Cancer Staging Project: Proposals for the Revision of the N Descriptors in the Forthcoming 8th Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer

Introduction: Nodal status is considered to be one of the most reliable indicators of the prognosis in patients with lung cancer and thus is indispensable in determining the optimal therapeutic options. We sought to determine whether the current nodal (N) descriptors should be maintained or revised for the next edition (8th) of the International Lung Cancer Staging System. Methods: The new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer lung cancer database was created from 94,708 patients diagnosed as having lung cancer between 1999 and 2010. Among these, 38,910 and 31,426 patients with non–small-cell lung carcinoma were available for an analysis of the clinical (c)N and pathological (p)N status, respectively. The anatomical location of lymph node involvement was defined by either the Naruke (for Japanese data) or American Thoracic Society (for non-Japanese data) nodal charts. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method, and prognostic groups were assessed by a Cox regression analysis. Results: The current N0 to N3 descriptors for both the cN and pN status consistently separated prognostically distinct groups. The 5-year survival rates according to the cN and pN status were 60% and 75% (N0), 37% and 49% (N1), 23% and 36% (N2), and 9% and 20% (N3), respectively. The differences in survival between all neighboring nodal categories were highly significant for both the cN and pN status. With regard to pathological staging, additional analyses regarding the prognosis were performed by further dividing N1 into N1 at a single station (N1a) and N1 at multiple stations (N1b); N2 into N2 at a single station without N1 involvement (“skip” metastasis, N2a1), N2 at a single station with N1 involvement (N2a2), and N2 at multiple stations (N2b). The survival curves for N1b and N2a2 overlapped each other, and N2a1 had numerically a better prognosis than N1b, although the difference was not significant. Geographic difference in N-specific prognosis was observed for both c-settings and p-settings. This might have been because of the difference in the used nodal map, surgical technique, and pathologist’s handling of the resected specimen. Conclusions: Current N descriptors adequately predict the prognosis and therefore should be maintained in the forthcoming staging system. Furthermore, we recommend that physicians record the number of metastatic lymph nodes (or stations) and to further classify the N category using new descriptors, such as N1a, N1b, N2a, N2b, and N3, for further testing.

Remediastinoscopy after induction chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to evaluate the technical feasibility and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of remediastinoscopy in restaging N2 bronchogenic carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS Patients presenting mediastinal lymph node involvement at mediastinoscopy received three or four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with mitomycin, iphosphamide, and cisplatin or cisplatin and gemcitabine. If there was no disease progression, these patients underwent remediastinoscopy and, if no residual extracapsular involvement or N3 disease was found, a thoracotomy was then carried out. RESULTS Twenty-four patients underwent remediastinoscopy. In 12 (50%) remediastinoscopy was positive. The 12 remaining patients were operated on and the tumors resected: 5 pneumonectomies and 7 lobectomies. Lymphadenectomy specimens showed residual disease in mediastinal lymph nodes in 5 patients (pN2) and hilar lymph nodes in 1 patient (pN1). The other 6 patients were free of nodal disease, and 4 of them presented no involvement at lung level either. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of remediastinoscopy were 0.7, 1, and 0.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Remediastinoscopy is a technically feasible staging tool with high diagnostic accuracy that is useful in the selection of patients who can be served best by complete resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: The New Database to Inform the Eighth Edition of the TNM Classification of Lung Cancer

The analyses of the retrospective database of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), consisting of more than 81,000 evaluable patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 1990 and 2000, formed the basis of recommendations to the Union for International Cancer Control and the American Joint Committee on Cancer for the revision of the sixth edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) classification of lung cancer. However, despite the large number of patients, not all descriptors could be validated. This prompted a new collection of retrospective and prospective data to overcome the limitations of the original retrospective database. The new IASLC database has information on 94,708 new patients diagnosed of lung cancer between 1999 and 2010. They originated from 35 sources in 16 countries, and 4,667 were submitted via the online electronic data capture system. Europe contributed 46,560 patients, Asia: 41,705, North America: 4,660, Australia: 1,593, and South America: 190. After exclusions, 77,156 (70,967 with nonsmall cell lung cancer and 6,189 with small cell lung cancer) remained for analysis. This database will be analyzed according to established objectives for the T, the N, and the M components to inform the eighth edition of the TNM classification of lung cancer due to be published in 2016. The IASLC hopes for the continuing contribution of our partners around the world to improve the classification of anatomical extent of disease, but also to create prognostic groups in a parallel project of the IASLC Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee.

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: data elements for the prospective project.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Retrospective Staging Project culminated in a series of recommendations to the International Union Against Cancer and to the American Joint Committee on Cancer regarding the seventh edition of the tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) classification for lung cancer. The International Staging Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer now issues this call for participation in the Prospective Project designed to assess the validity of each component of T, N, and M, and other factors relevant to lung cancer staging and prognosis. In the Retrospective Project, the original data acquisition was typically motivated by interests other than staging. In contrast, the Prospective Project offers online data entry. Alternatively, participants may transfer existing data, provided core objectives are addressed. Cancer Research and Biostatistics will coordinate data management and analysis. The study population is newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. Data elements include patient characteristics, baseline laboratory values, first-line treatment, TNM plus supporting evidence, and survival. Pretreatment TNM will be collected for all cases; postsurgical TNM, if resection is attempted. T descriptors include size and degree of tumor extension, with further description of extent of visceral pleural invasion, venous invasion, carcinomatous lymphangitis, and pleural lavage cytology. M descriptors characterize the newly proposed M1a category and sites of distant metastases. Nodal station involvement is described by means of a newly proposed nodal map, facilitating international participation, and allowing further investigation of nodal zones. Successful collection and analysis of these data can be expected to yield unprecedented improvements in the utility and validity of lung cancer staging.