Multidisciplinary approach for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): 2023 expert consensus of the Spanish Lung Cancer Group GECP.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in the treatment of locally advanced NSCLC have led to changes in the standard of care for this disease. For the selection of the best approach strategy for each patient, it is necessary the homogenization of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, as well as the promotion of the evaluation of patients by a multidisciplinary oncology team. OBJECTIVE: Development of an expert consensus document with suggestions for the approach and treatment of locally advanced NSCLC leaded by Spanish Lung Cancer Group GECP. METHODS: Between March and July 2023, a panel of 28 experts was formed. Using a mixed technique (Delphi/nominal group) under the guidance of a coordinating group, consensus was reached in 4 phases: 1. Literature review and definition of discussion topics 2. First round of voting 3. Communicating the results and second round of voting 4. Definition of conclusions in nominal group meeting. Responses were consolidated using medians and interquartile ranges. The threshold for agreement was defined as 85% of the votes. RESULTS: New and controversial situations regarding the diagnosis and management of locally advanced NSCLC were analyzed and reconciled based on evidence and clinical experience. Discussion issues included: molecular diagnosis and biomarkers, radiologic and surgical diagnosis, mediastinal staging, role of the multidisciplinary thoracic committee, neoadjuvant treatment indications, evaluation of response to neoadjuvant treatment, postoperative evaluation, and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus clinical suggestions were generated on the most relevant scenarios such as diagnosis, staging and treatment of locally advanced lung cancer, which will serve to support decision-making in daily practice.

Outcomes of surgical resection after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in locally advanced stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This analysis aimed to evaluate perioperative outcomes of surgical resection following neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy plus nivolumab in resectable stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel + carboplatin) plus nivolumab for 3 cycles. Reassessment of the tumour was carried out after treatment and patients with at least stable disease as best response underwent pulmonary resection. After surgery, patients received adjuvant treatment with nivolumab for 1 year. Surgical data were collected from the NADIM database and patient charts were reviewed for additional surgical details. RESULTS: Among 46 patients who received neoadjuvant treatment, 41 (89.1%) underwent surgery. Two patients rejected surgery and 3 did not fulfil resectability criteria. There were 35 lobectomies (85.3%), 3 of which were sleeve lobectomies (9.4%), 3 bilobectomies (7.3%) and 3 pneumonectomies (7.3%). Video-assisted thoracoscopy was the initial approach in 51.2% of cases, with a conversion rate of 19% (n = 4). There was no operative mortality at either 30 or 90 days. The most common complications were prolonged air leak (n = 8), pneumonia (n = 5) and arrhythmia (n = 4). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in all patients who underwent surgery, downstaging was observed in 37 patients (90.2%) and major pathological response in 34 patients (82.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection following induction therapy with chemotherapy plus nivolumab appears to be safe and offers appropriate oncological outcomes. Perioperative morbidity and mortality rates in our study were no higher than previously reported in this setting. A minimally invasive approach is, therefore, feasible.

Early Surgical Management of Bronchial Dehiscence After Single-Lung Transplantation: A Case Report.

Anastomotic airway complications after lung transplantation affect up to 20% of patients. Bronchial stenosis is the most frequent complication, while dehiscence of bronchial anastomosis is a rarely seen complication, with report incidences between 1% and 10%. Despite its low incidence, dehiscence of bronchial anastomoses remains a disastrous complication in the posttransplantation period without a well-established management protocol. We present a challenging case of complete bronchial dehiscence after unilateral lung transplantation in a patient with interstitial lung fibrosis (ILF) that occurred on postoperative day 10. The dehiscence was diagnosed early and the patient's status was stable for repeat thoracotomy, therefore, an early surgical approach was preferable to conservative management or bronchoscopy. Aggressive early surgical management in a stable patient allows for complete debridement with removal of the detritus that impedes correct anastomosis healing and permits the removal of microbial vegetations with successful results.

Thoracotomy Wound Dehiscence After Lung Transplant Is an Effective Surgical Solution: A Case Report.

Post-thoracotomy wound dehiscence after a lung transplant carries with it morbidity in the postoperative period. While this complication has been widely reported in the literature after a clamshell incision, the thoracotomy dehiscence's surgical solution has not received much emphasis. We present an original technical solution to deal with this complication, performed successfully in a 62-year-old woman diagnosed as having idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis after a single lung transplant. This surgical treatment consists of necrotic rib tissue removal, pleural effusion drainage, pulmonary adhesion removal, and chest wall defect reparation with bioabsorbable mesh. This operative technique results safe and effective for thoracotomy dehiscence reparation.

Role of advanced magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of malignancies of the mediastinum.

In the new era of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the utility of chest MRI is increasing exponentially due to several advances, including absence of ionizing radiation, excellent tissue contrast and high capability for lesion characterization and treatment monitoring. The application of several of these diagnostic weapons in a multiparametric fashion enables to better characterize thymic epithelial tumors and other mediastinal tumoral lesions, accurate assessment of the invasion of adjacent structures and detection of pathologic lymph nodes and metastasis. Also, "do not touch lesions" could be identified with the associated impact in the management of those patients. One of the hot-spots of the multiparametric chest MR is its ability to detect with acuity early response to treatment in patients with mediastinal malignant neoplasms. This has been related with higher rates of overall survival and progression free survival. Therefore, in this review we will analyze the current functional imaging techniques available (18F-Fluorodeoxiglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, diffusion tensor imaging and MR spectroscopy) for the evaluation of mediastinal lesions, with a focus in their correct acquisition and post-processing. Also, to review the clinical applications of these techniques in the diagnostic approach of benign and malignant conditions of the mediastinum.

Functional MR Imaging in Chest Malignancies.

With recent advances in MR imaging, its application in the thorax has been feasible. The performance of both morphologic and functional techniques in the evaluation of thoracic malignances has improved not only differentiation from benign etiologies but also treatment monitoring based on a multiparametric approach. Several MR imaging-derived parameters have been described as potential biomarkers linked with prognosis and survival. Therefore, an integral approach with a nonradiating and noninvasive technique could be an optimal alternative for evaluating those patients.