Protective effect of height on long-term survival of resectable lung cancer: a new feature of the lung cancer paradox.

INTRODUCTION: Unlike most malignancies, higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer and improved prognosis after surgery. However, it remains controversial whether height, one of determinants of BMI, is associated with survival independently of BMI and other confounders. METHODS: We extracted data on all consecutive patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer included in Epithor, the French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery database, over a 16-year period. Height was analysed as a continuous variable, and then categorised into four or three categories, according to sex-specific quantiles. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association of height with survival, adjusted for age, tobacco consumption, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), WHO performance status (WHO PS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, extent of resection, histological type, stage of disease and centre as a random effect, as well as BMI in a further analysis. RESULTS: The study included 61 379 patients. Higher height was significantly associated with better long-term survival after adjustment for other variables (adjusted HR 0.97 per 10 cm higher height, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99); additional adjustment for BMI resulted in an identical HR. The prognostic impact of height was further confirmed by stratifying by age, ASA class, WHO PS and histological type. When stratifying by BMI class, there was no evidence of a differential association (p=0.93). When stratifying by stage of disease, the prognostic significance of height was maintained for all stages except IIIB-IV. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that height is an independent prognostic factor of resectable lung cancer.

Survival outcomes following urgent lung transplantation in France and the USA.

INTRODUCTION: Lung graft allocation can be based on a score (Lung Allocation Score) as in the USA or sequential proposals combined with a discrete priority model as in France. We aimed to analyse the impact of allocation policy on the outcome of urgent lung transplantation (LT). METHODS: US United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and French Cristal databases were retrospectively reviewed to analyse LT performed between 2007 and 2017. We analysed the mortality risk of urgent LT by fitting Cox models and adjusted Restricted Mean Survival Time. We then compared the outcome after urgent LT in the UNOS and Cristal groups using a propensity score matching. RESULTS: After exclusion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema and redo LT, 3775 and 12 561 patients underwent urgent LT and non-urgent LT in the USA while 600 and 2071 patients underwent urgent LT and non-urgent LT in France. In univariate analysis, urgent LT was associated with an HR for death of 1.24 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.48) in the Cristal group and 1.12 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.19) in the UNOS group. In multivariate analysis, the effect of urgent LT was attenuated and no longer statistically significant in the Cristal database (HR 1.1 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.33)) while it remained constant and statistically significant in the UNOS database (HR 1.12 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.2)). Survival comparison of urgent LT patients between the two countries was significantly different in favour of the UNOS group (1-year survival rates 84.1% (80.9%-87.3%) vs 75.4% (71.8%-79.1%) and 3-year survival rates 66.3% (61.9%-71.1%) vs 62.7% (58.5%-67.1%), respectively). CONCLUSION: Urgent LT is associated with adverse outcome in the USA and in France with a better prognosis in the US score-based system taking post-transplant survival into account. This difference between two healthcare systems is multifactorial.

The Prognostic Role of the Number of Involved Structures in Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Results from the ESTS Database.

BACKGROUND: The role of the number of involved structures (NIS) in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) has been investigated for inclusion in future staging systems, but large cohort results still are missing. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic role of NIS for patients included in the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) thymic database who underwent surgical resection. METHODS: Clinical and pathologic data of patients from the ESTS thymic database who underwent surgery for TET from January 2000 to July 2019 with infiltration of surrounding structures were reviewed and analyzed. Patients' clinical data, tumor characteristics, and NIS were collected and correlated with CSS using Kaplan-Meier curves. The log-rank test was used to assess differences between subgroups. A multivariable model was built using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The final analysis was performed on 303 patients. Histology showed thymoma for 216 patients (71.3%) and NET/thymic carcinoma [TC]) for 87 patients (28.7%). The most frequently infiltrated structures were the pleura (198 cases, 65.3%) and the pericardium in (185 cases, 61.1%), whereas lung was involved in 96 cases (31.7%), great vessels in 74 cases (24.4%), and the phrenic nerve in 31 cases (10.2%). Multiple structures (range, 2-7) were involved in 183 cases (60.4%). Recurrence resulted in the death of 46 patients. The CSS mortality rate was 89% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. In the univariable analysis, the favorable prognostic factors were neoadjuvant therapy, Masaoka stage 3, absence of metastases, absence of myasthenia gravis, complete resection, thymoma histology, and no more than two NIS. Patients with more than two NIS presented with a significantly worse CSS than patients with no more than two NIS (CSS 5- and 10-year rates: 9.5% and 83.5% vs 93.2% and 91.2%, respectively; p = 0.04). The negative independent prognostic factors confirmed by the multivariable analysis were incomplete resection (hazard ratio [HR] 2.543; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.010-6.407; p = 0.048) and more than two NIS (HR 1.395; 95% CI 1.021-1.905; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that more than two involved structures are a negative independent prognostic factor in infiltrative thymic epithelial tumors that could be used for prognostic stratification.

Lung Transplantation for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Kartagener Syndrome: A Multicenter Study.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia, with or without situs abnormalities, is a rare lung disease that can lead to an irreversible lung damage that may progress to respiratory failure. Lung transplant can be considered in end-stage disease. This study describes the outcomes of the largest lung transplant population for PCD and for PCD with situs abnormalities, also identified as Kartagener's syndrome. Retrospectively collected data of 36 patients who underwent lung transplantation for PCD from 1995 to 2020 with or without SA as part of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Lung Transplantation Working Group on rare diseases. Primary outcomes of interest included survival and freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Secondary outcomes included primary graft dysfunction within 72 h and the rate of rejection ≥A2 within the first year. Among PCD recipients with and without SA, the mean overall and CLAD-free survival were 5.9 and 5.2 years with no significant differences between groups in terms of time to CLAD (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.27-3.14, p = 0.894) or mortality (HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.14-1.43, p = 0.178). Postoperative rates of PGD were comparable between groups; rejection grades ≥A2 on first biopsy or within the first year was more common in patients with SA. This study provides a valuable insight on international practices of lung transplantation in patients with PCD. Lung transplantation is an acceptable treatment option in this population.

Medico-economic impact of thoracoscopy versus thoracotomy in lung cancer: multicentre randomised controlled trial (Lungsco01).

BACKGROUND: Lungsco01 is the first study assessing the real benefits and the medico-economic impact of video-thoracoscopy versus open thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer in the French context. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty nine adult patients from 10 French centres were randomised in this prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial, between July 29, 2016, and November 24, 2020. Survival from surgical intervention to day 30 and later was compared with the log-rank test. Total quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs) were calculated using the EQ-5D-3L®. For medico-economic analyses at 30 days and at 3 months after surgery, resources consumed were valorised (€ 2018) from a hospital perspective. First, since mortality was infrequent and not different between the two arms, cost-minimisation analyses were performed considering only the cost differential. Second, based on complete cases on QALYs, cost-utility analyses were performed taking into account cost and QALY differential. Acceptability curves and the 95% confidence intervals for the incremental ratios were then obtained using the non-parametric bootstrap method (10,000 replications). Sensitivity analyses were performed using multiple imputations with the chained equation method. RESULTS: The average cumulative costs of thoracotomy were lower than those of video-thoracoscopy at 30 days (€9,730 (SD = 3,597) vs. €11,290 (SD = 4,729)) and at 3 months (€9,863 (SD = 3,508) vs. €11,912 (SD = 5,159)). In the cost-utility analyses, the incremental cost-utility ratio was €19,162 per additional QALY gained at 30 days (€36,733 at 3 months). The acceptability curve revealed a 64% probability of efficiency at 30 days for video-thoracoscopy, at a widely-accepted willingness-to-pay threshold of €25,000 (34% at 3 months). Ratios increased after multiple imputations, implying a higher cost for video-thoracoscopy for an additional QALY gain (ratios: €26,015 at 30 days, €42,779 at 3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Given our results, the economic efficiency of video-thoracoscopy at 30 days remains fragile at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €25,000/QALY. The economic efficiency is not established beyond that time horizon. The acceptability curves given will allow decision-makers to judge the probability of efficiency of this technology at other willingness-to-pay thresholds. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02502318.

Milestones in the History of Esophagectomy: From Torek to Minimally Invasive Approaches.

The history of esophagectomy reflects a journey of dedication, collaboration, and technical innovation, with ongoing endeavors aimed at optimizing outcomes and reducing complications. From its early attempts to modern minimally invasive approaches, the journey has been marked by perseverance and innovation. Franz J. A. Torek's 1913 successful esophageal resection marked a milestone, demonstrating the feasibility of transthoracic esophagectomy and the potential for esophageal cancer cure. However, its high mortality rate posed challenges, and it took almost two decades for similar successes to emerge. Surgical techniques evolved with the left thoracotomy, right thoracotomy, and transhiatal approaches, expanding the indications for resection. Mechanical staplers introduced in the early 20th century transformed anastomosis, reducing complications. The advent of minimally invasive techniques in the 1990s aimed to minimize complications while maintaining oncological efficacy. Robot-assisted esophagectomy further pushed the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery. Collaborative efforts, particularly from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration and the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group, standardized reporting and advanced the understanding of outcomes. The introduction of risk prediction models aids in making informed decisions. Despite significant improvements in survival rates and postoperative mortality, anastomotic leaks remain a concern, with recent rates showing an increase. Prevention strategies include microvascular anastomosis and ischemic preconditioning, yet challenges persist.

Postoperative radiotherapy versus no postoperative radiotherapy in patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer and proven mediastinal N2 involvement (Lung ART): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) has been controversial since 1998, because of one meta-analysis showing a deleterious effect on survival in patients with pN0 and pN1, but with an unclear effect in patients with pN2 NSCLC. Because many changes have occurred in the management of patients with NSCLC, the role of three-dimensional (3D) conformal PORT warrants further investigation in patients with stage IIIAN2 NSCLC. The aim of this study was to establish whether PORT should be part of their standard treatment. METHODS: Lung ART is an open-label, randomised, phase 3, superiority trial comparing mediastinal PORT to no PORT in patients with NSCLC with complete resection, nodal exploration, and cytologically or histologically proven N2 involvement. Previous neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy was allowed. Patients aged 18 years or older, with an WHO performance status of 0-2, were recruited from 64 hospitals and cancer centres in five countries (France, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either the PORT or no PORT (control) groups via a web randomisation system, and minimisation factors were the institution, administration of chemotherapy, number of mediastinal lymph node stations involved, histology, and use of pre-treatment PET scan. Patients received PORT at a dose of 54 Gy in 27 or 30 daily fractions, on five consecutive days a week. Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy was mandatory, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy was permitted in centres with expertise. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival, analysed by intention to treat at 3 years; patients from the PORT group who did not receive radiotherapy and patients from the control group with no follow-up were excluded from the safety analyses. This trial is now closed. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00410683. FINDINGS: Between Aug 7, 2007, and July 17, 2018, 501 patients, predominantly staged with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET (456 [91%]; 232 (92%) in the PORT group and 224 (90%) in the control group), were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive PORT (252 patients) or no PORT (249 patients). At the cutoff date of May 31, 2019, median follow-up was 4·8 years (IQR 2·9-7·0). 3-year disease-free survival was 47% (95% CI 40-54) with PORT versus 44% (37-51) without PORT, and the median disease-free survival was 30·5 months (95% CI 24-49) in the PORT group and 22·8 months (17-37) in the control group (hazard ratio 0·86; 95% CI 0·68-1·08; p=0·18). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were pneumonitis (13 [5%] of 241 patients in the PORT group vs one [<1%] of 246 in the control group), lymphopenia (nine [4%] vs 0), and fatigue (six [3%] vs one [<1%]). Late-grade 3-4 cardiopulmonary toxicity was reported in 26 patients (11%) in the PORT group versus 12 (5%) in the control group. Two patients died from pneumonitis, partly related to radiotherapy and infection, and one patient died due to chemotherapy toxicity (sepsis) that was deemed to be treatment-related, all of whom were in the PORT group. INTERPRETATION: Lung ART evaluated 3D conformal PORT after complete resection in patients who predominantly had been staged using (18F-FDG PET-CT and received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. 3-year disease-free survival was higher than expected in both groups, but PORT was not associated with an increased disease-free survival compared with no PORT. Conformal PORT cannot be recommended as the standard of care in patients with stage IIIAN2 NSCLC. FUNDING: French National Cancer Institute, Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique from the French Health Ministry, Gustave Roussy, Cancer Research UK, Swiss State Secretary for Education, Research, and Innovation, Swiss Cancer Research Foundation, Swiss Cancer League.

Impact of ex vivo lung perfusion on brain-dead donor lung utilization: The French experience.

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a valuable method for expanding the lung donor pool. Its indications currently differ across centers. This national retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the profile of donors with lungs transplanted after EVLP and determine the effectiveness of EVLP on lung utilization. We included brain-dead donors with at least one lung offered between 2012 and 2019 in France. Lungs transplanted without or after EVLP were compared with those that were rejected. Donor group phenotypes were determined with multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). The association between donor factors and lung transplantation was assessed with a multivariable multinomial logistic regression. MCA revealed that donors whose lungs were transplanted after EVLP had profiles similar to the donors whose lungs were declined and quite different from those of donors with lungs transplanted without EVLP. Donor predictors of graft nonuse included age ≥50 years, smoking history, PaO2 /FiO2 ratio ≤300 mmHg, abnormal chest imaging, and purulent secretions. EVLP increased utilization of lungs from donors with a smoking history, PaO2 /FiO2 ratio ≤300 mmHg, and abnormal chest imaging.

Functional status in older patients with lung cancer: an observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: An assessment of the impact of functional status (FS) evaluated using a combination of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the short version of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), on 3- and 6- month mortality and on 3-month unplanned hospitalizations in older patients treated for lung cancers. METHOD AND OBJECTIVES: This observational retrospective study was conducted between September 2015 and January 2019 at Marseille University Hospital (AP-HM). During this period, all consecutive outpatients aged 70 years or older referred for a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) before the initiation of lung cancer treatment were enrolled. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were analyzed: the median age was 78.7 years and 74.0% were male. Almost half of the patients were metastatic (45.4%). Concerning FS, 41.9% of patients had no ADL-IADL impairment, 30.0% had either IADL or ADL impairment, and both ADL-IADL were impaired for 28.1%. Impaired ADL-IADL was associated with poor nutritional status, depression, mobility, and cognitive disorders. In a logistic regression model, ADL or IADL impairment (aOR = 2.1; 95% CI [1.0-4.2]; p = 0.037) and impaired ADL-IADL (aOR = 2.6; 95% CI [1.2-5.3]; p = 0.012) were independently associated with a higher risk of unplanned hospitalizations within 3 months. In the multivariate Cox model, 6-month mortality risk was independently associated with impaired ADL-IADL (aHR = 2.3; 95% CI [1.3-4.4]; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The combination of ADL and IADL scales to assess FS is a prognostic marker of the mortality risk at 6 months in older patients with lung cancer and should be more largely used by oncologists in treatment decision making.

Bifurcated Silicone Stents for the Management of Anastomotic Complications in Lung Transplanted Patients: Ten Years' Experience.

BACKGROUND: In lung transplantation (LT), the actual surgical practice is to cut the donor bronchus as short as possible in order to reduce anastomotic complications (AC). Consequently, the anastomosis is very close to the secondary carina. If AC occur, regular straight stents may be unsatisfactory and on-site modified bifurcated stents may represent an alternative. OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study sought to assess the short- and long-term outcomes of patients treated with customized bifurcated stent (CBS) for the management of AC following LT. METHODS: Data from patients with AC following LT requiring CBS placement between June 2010 and June 2020 were analyzed. RESULTS: Four hundred patients underwent lung transplant. AC requiring airway stenting occurred in 32 patients (8%), and CBS were inserted in 15 patients (3.5%). Indications were stenosis (n = 12; 80%) and bronchial dehiscence (n = 3; 20%). CBS were successfully deployed in 14 patients and failed in 1 patient. No migration was recorded during the follow-up. The median number of complication was 1 per patient (0-5). CBS could be removed in 11 patients (78.6%), and 3 died with their stents in place. AC recurrence or complications requiring new stenting occurred in 4/11 patients (36.3%), with a median time of 7 days (0-29). Seven patients (63.7%) had no AC recurrence, with a median follow-up of 925 days (118-3,249). CONCLUSIONS: The actual surgical anastomotic technique in LT provides new endoscopic challenges. CBS seem ideally positioned to address these difficulties safely and effectively but are associated with stent related complications requiring further endoscopic management.

Lung Ultrasound Findings in the Postanesthesia Care Unit Are Associated With Outcome After Major Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study in a High-Risk Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with increased morbidity. Identifying patients at higher risk for such complications may allow preemptive treatment. METHODS: Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score >1 and who were scheduled for major surgery of >2 hours were enrolled in a single-center prospective study. After extubation, lung ultrasound was performed after a median time of 60 minutes by 2 certified anesthesiologists in the postanesthesia care unit after a standardized tracheal extubation. Postoperative pulmonary complications occurring within 8 postoperative days were recorded. The association between lung ultrasound findings and postoperative pulmonary complications was analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among the 327 patients included, 69 (19%) developed postoperative pulmonary complications. The lung ultrasound score was higher in the patients who developed postoperative pulmonary complications (12 [7-18] vs 8 [4-12]; P < .001). The odds ratio for pulmonary complications in patients who had a pleural effusion detected by lung ultrasound was 3.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-11.7). The hospital death rate was also higher in patients with pleural effusions (22% vs 1.3%; P < .001). Patients with pulmonary consolidations on lung ultrasound had a higher risk of postoperative mechanical ventilation (17% vs 5.1%; P = .001). In all patients, the area under the curve for predicting postoperative pulmonary complications was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.71). CONCLUSIONS: When lung ultrasound is performed precociously <2 hours after extubation, detection of immediate postoperative alveolar consolidation and pleural effusion by lung ultrasound is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications and morbi-mortality. Further study is needed to determine the effect of ultrasound-guided intervention for patients at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Worldwide clinical practices in perioperative antibiotic therapy for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Infection is the most common cause of mortality within the first year after lung transplantation (LTx). The management of perioperative antibiotic therapy is a major issue, but little is known about worldwide practices. METHODS: We sent by email a survey dealing with 5 daily clinical vignettes concerning perioperative antibiotic therapy to 180 LTx centers around the world. The invitation and a weekly reminder were sent to lung transplant specialists for a single consensus answer per center during a 3-month period. RESULTS: We received a total of 99 responses from 24 countries, mostly from Western Europe (n = 46) and the USA (n = 34). Systematic screening for bronchial recipient colonization before LTx was mostly performed with sputum samples (72%), regardless of the underlying lung disease. In recipients without colonization, antibiotics with activity against gram-negative bacteria resistant strains (piperacillin / tazobactam, cefepime, ceftazidime, carbapenems) were reported in 72% of the centers, and antibiotics with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mainly vancomycin) were reported in 38% of the centers. For these recipients, the duration of antibiotics reported was 7 days (33%) or less (26%) or stopped when cultures of donor and recipients were reported negatives (12%). In recipients with previous colonization, antibiotics were adapted to the susceptibility of the most resistant strain and given for at least 14 days (67%). CONCLUSION: Practices vary widely around the world, but resistant bacterial strains are mostly targeted even if no colonization occurs. The antibiotic duration reported was longer for colonized recipients.

Impact of donor, recipient and matching on survival after high emergency lung transplantation in France.

INTRODUCTION: Since July 2007, the French high emergency lung transplantation (HELT) allocation procedure prioritises available lung grafts to waiting patients with imminent risk of death. The relative impacts of donor, recipient and matching on the outcome following HELT remain unknown. We aimed at deciphering the relative impacts of donor, recipient and matching on the outcome following HELT in an exhaustive administrative database. METHODS: All lung transplantations performed in France were prospectively registered in an administrative database. We retrospectively reviewed the procedures performed between July 2007 and December 2015, and analysed the impact of donor, recipient and matching on overall survival after the HELT procedure by fitting marginal Cox models. RESULTS: During the study period, 2335 patients underwent lung transplantation in 11 French centres. After exclusion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, 1544 patients were included: 503 HELT and 1041 standard lung transplantation allocations. HELT was associated with a hazard ratio for death of 1.41 (95% CI 1.22-1.64; p<0.0001) in univariate analysis, decreasing to 1.32 (95% CI 1.10-1.60) after inclusion of recipient characteristics in a multivariate model. A donor score computed to predict long-term survival was significantly different between the HELT and standard lung transplantation groups (p=0.014). However, the addition of donor characteristics to recipient characteristics in the multivariate model did not change the hazard ratio associated with HELT. CONCLUSIONS: This exhaustive French national study suggests that HELT is associated with an adverse outcome compared with regular allocation. This adverse outcome is mainly related to the severity status of the recipients rather than donor or matching characteristics.

Impact of gram negative bacteria airway recolonization on the occurrence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction after lung transplantation in a population of cystic fibrosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality after the first year following lung transplantation (LTx). Risk factors of CLAD have been extensively studied, but the association between gram-negative bacteria (GNB) bronchial colonization and the development of CLAD is controversial. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between post-transplant recolonization with the same species or de-novo colonization with a new GNB species and CLAD. The same analysis was performed on a sub-group of patients at the strain level using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry technique. RESULTS: Forty adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who underwent a first bilateral LTx in the University Hospital of Marseille, between January 2010 and December 2014, were included in the study. Patients with GNB de-novo colonization had a higher risk of developing CLAD (OR = 6.72, p = 0.04) and a lower rate of CLAD-free survival (p = 0.005) compared to patients with GNB recolonization. No conclusion could be drawn from the subgroup MALDI-TOF MS analysis at the strain level. CONCLUSION: Post-LTx GNB airway recolonization seems to be a protective factor against CLAD, whereas de-novo colonization with a new species of GNB seems to be a risk factor for CLAD.

Risk factors for survival and recurrence after lung metastasectomy.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer worldwide, with up to 25% of patients who will develop metastases. Pulmonary metastases (PMs) resection for CRC might improve long-term survival, but the selection criteria for patients who would benefit remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative predictive factors in patients eligible for this surgical strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of patients from five thoracic surgery departments who underwent PM resection for CRC with intent to cure between 2005 and 2010. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictive factors influencing long-term survival and recurrence after pulmonary resection. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-four patients were eligible. Forty-eight patients had pulmonary recurrence (13.5%). Thirty-day postoperative mortality was 0.3% (n = 1). Five- and 8-y overall survival (OS) were 64.3 ± 3.99% and 60.72 ± 4.5%, respectively. In univariate analysis, 5-y OS was significantly associated with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 1 (P = 0.02), a low number of PM (P = 0.001), and single wedge resection (P = 0.00001). In multivariate analysis, an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or higher (P = 0.05), two or more PMs (P = 0.034) and pneumonectomy (P = 0.021) were significant predictors of a poor outcome. In univariate analysis, 5-y cumulative recurrence was significantly associated with the absence of mediastinal lymph node dissection (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given its high 5-y OS with low postoperative morbidity, thus allowing repeat surgical management, resection of PM could be performed. Resection of PM could improve long-term survival.

Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on lymph node status in esophageal cancer: post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The study objectives were to analyze the impact of the number of lymph nodes (LNs) reported as resected (NLNr) and the number of LNs invaded (NLNi) on the prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. BACKGROUND: Pathological LN status is a major disease prognostic factor and marker of surgical quality. The impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) on LN status remains poorly studied in EC. METHODS: Post hoc analysis from a phase III randomized controlled trial comparing nCRT and surgery (group nCRT) to surgery alone (group S) in stage I and II EC (NCT00047112). Only patients who underwent surgical resection were considered (n = 170). RESULTS: nCRT resulted in tumoral downstaging (pT0, 40.7% vs 1.1%, P < 0.001), LN downstaging (pN0, 69.1% vs 47.2%, P = 0.016), and reduction in the median NLNr [16.0 (range, 0-47.0) vs 22.0 (range, 3.0-58.0), P = 0.001] and NLNi [0 (range, 0-25) vs 1.0 (range, 0-25), P = 0.001]. A good histological response (TRG1/2) in the resected esophageal specimen correlated with reduced median NLNi [0 (range, 0-10) vs 1.0 (range, 0-4), P = 0.007]. After adjustment by treatment, NLNi [hazards ratio (HR) (1-3 vs 0) 3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-5.5, and HR (>3 vs 0) 3.5, 95% CI: 2.0-6.2, P < 0.001] correlated with prognosis, whereas NLNr [HR (<15 vs ≥15) 0.95, 95% CI: 0.6-1.4, P = 0.807 and HR (<23 vs ≥23) 1.4, 95% CI: 0.9-2.0, P = 0.131] did not. In Poisson regression analysis, nCRT was an independent predictive variable for reduced NLNr [exp(coefficient) 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66-0.96, P = 0.018]. CONCLUSIONS: nCRT is not only responsible for disease downstaging but also predicts fewer LNs being identified after surgical resection for EC. This has implications for the current quality criteria for surgical resection.

Time trends in surgery for lung cancer in France from 2005 to 2012: a nationwide study.

The aim of this study was to assess the evolution of survival in patients treated surgically for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between 2005 and 2012.From January 2005 to December 2012, 34 006 patients underwent pulmonary resection for NSCLC and were included in the French national database Epithor. Patients' characteristics, procedures and survival were analysed. Survival according to the management was evaluated for each 2-year period separately: 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010 and 2011-2012.The proportions of early-stage cancers and adenocarcinomas increased significantly over the periods. 3-year overall survival (OS) increased significantly from 80.5% for the first period to 81.4% for the last period. For the periods 2005-2006 and 2007-2008, 3-year OS was lower after segmentectomy than after lobectomy (77 and 73% versus 82 and 83%, respectively). For the periods 2009-2010 and 2011-2012, 3-year OS in the two sub-groups was similar. OS after bi-lobectomy or pneumonectomy was lower than after lobectomy for all periods analysed. Systematic nodal dissection increased OS for all periods. Chemotherapy but not radiotherapy improved OS in the first 12 postoperative months for all periods.Changes in histological type and stage linked to advances in surgical and medical practices since 2005 led to an increase in OS in patients with surgical-stage NSCLC.