Transitioning to Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Trends and Surgical Outcomes in a Regionalized Pulmonary Oncology Network.

BACKGROUND: Several regulatory agencies have approved the use of the neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for resectable stage II and III of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and numerous trials investigating novel agents are underway. However, significant concerns exist around the feasibility and safety of offering curative surgery to patients treated within such pathways. The goal in this study was to evaluate the impact of a transition towards a large-scale neoadjuvant therapy program for NSCLC. METHODS: Medical charts of patients with clinical stage II and III NSCLC who underwent resection from January 2015 to December 2020 were reviewed. The primary outcome was perioperative complication rate between neoadjuvant-treated versus upfront surgery patients. Multivariable logistic regression estimated occurrence of postoperative complications and overall survival was assessed as an exploratory secondary outcome by Kaplan-Meier and Cox-regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 428 patients included, 106 (24.8%) received neoadjuvant therapy and 322 (75.2%) upfront surgery. Frequency of minor and major postoperative complications was similar between groups (P = .22). Occurrence in postoperative complication was similar in both cohort (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.73-2.34). Neoadjuvant therapy administration increased from 10% to 45% with a rise in targeted and immuno-therapies over time, accompanied by a reduced rate of preoperative radiation therapy use. 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival was higher in neoadjuvant therapy compared to upfront surgery patients (Log-Rank P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in perioperative outcomes and survival were observed in resectable NSCLC patients treated by neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery. Transition to neoadjuvant therapy among resectable NSCLC patients is safe and feasible from a surgical perspective.

Neoadjuvant Prehabilitation Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Optimizing Outcomes Throughout the Trajectory of Care.

BACKGROUND: Prehabilitation is well established for improving outcomes in cancer surgery. Combining prehabilitation with neoadjuvant treatments may provide an opportunity to rapidly initiate cancer-directed therapy while improving functional status in preparation for local consolidation. In this proof-of-concept study, we analyzed non-small-cell lung cancer patients who underwent simultaneous prehabilitation and neoadjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer followed by curative intent surgery between 2015 and 2021. Patients who were screened for the prehabilitation program were identified. The screening included assessment of physical performance, nutritional status, and signs of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: We identified a total of 141 patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Twenty patients were screened to undergo a prehabilitation program. Four patients did not complete the exercise program (1 surgical intervention too soon, 1 drop-out after the first session, and 2 patients were deemed fit without intervention). The postoperative median length of stay was 2 days (range 1-18). Patients improved their 6-minute-walk test despite undergoing neoadjuvant treatment by a mean of 33 meters (± 50, P = .1). Self-reported functional status (DASI) showed significant improvement by a mean of 10 points (± 11, P = .03), and HADS-anxiety-score was significantly reduced after the prehabilitation program by a mean of 1.5 points (± 1, P = .005). CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant prehabilitation therapy is feasible and associated with encouraging results. The performance of all measures remains a logistic challenge. With multimodal strategies for lung cancer treatment becoming key to optimal outcomes, neoadjuvant prehabilitation therapy is a concept worthy of prospective multi-center evaluation.

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum) as a Cause of Asymptomatic Liver Mass.

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum) is a parasitic nematode of rodents, rarely infecting humans. An asymptomatic Israeli adult male with extensive travel history was diagnosed with a liver mass on routine post-thymectomy follow-up. Imaging and computer tomography (CT) guided biopsy were inconclusive. Surgical excision revealed an eosinophilic granuloma with fragments of a nematode suspected to be C. hepatica. Molecular methods verified the diagnosis, and the patient was treated empirically. This is the first case of hepatic capillariasis described in Israel, and the first to be diagnosed using molecular methods.

The human tumor microbiome is composed of tumor type-specific intracellular bacteria.

Bacteria were first detected in human tumors more than 100 years ago, but the characterization of the tumor microbiome has remained challenging because of its low biomass. We undertook a comprehensive analysis of the tumor microbiome, studying 1526 tumors and their adjacent normal tissues across seven cancer types, including breast, lung, ovary, pancreas, melanoma, bone, and brain tumors. We found that each tumor type has a distinct microbiome composition and that breast cancer has a particularly rich and diverse microbiome. The intratumor bacteria are mostly intracellular and are present in both cancer and immune cells. We also noted correlations between intratumor bacteria or their predicted functions with tumor types and subtypes, patients' smoking status, and the response to immunotherapy.

Surgical Treatment of Gastro-Pulmonary Fistula Following Bariatric Surgery: Possible and Safe.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a common surgical management of morbid obesity. Major complication rate is 3-8%. Staple line leak is one of the most serious complications. In a small group of patients, a gastro-pulmonary fistula is formed. Endoscopic and minimally invasive measures are the first line of treatment with considerable success rate. There are very poor data in the literature what should be done in cases of failure. In this paper, we report our positive experience with definitive surgical repair. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 13 consecutive patients referred to the general thoracic surgery department for gastro-pulmonary fistula following sleeve gastrectomy. RESULTS: Prior to their referral, all patients underwent surgical or percutaneous drainage and multiple treatment attempts including stent insertion, pyloric dilatation, endo-clip/ring closure, endoscopic argon ablation and glue injection. Two patients underwent emergency thoracotomy for sepsis and bile empyema. One died in the early postoperative period. Eleven patients underwent semi-elective definitive surgery. Surgery included left lower lobectomy, partial diaphragmectomy and digestive system reconstruction. There was no mortality or major complications in this group. Complication rate was 45% mostly local wound infection and pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Gastro-pulmonary fistula is a rare devastating complication of sleeve gastrectomy. When minimally invasive measures fail, there is no place for nihilism. Surgical repair is possible and safe. The data presented herein support this treatment policy.

Hybrid video-assisted and limited open (VALO) resection of superior sulcus tumors.

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative recovery of patients with superior sulcus tumors (Pancoast tumors) following conventional open surgery vs. a hybrid video-assisted and limited open approach (VALO). METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 20 patients we operated on to resect a Pancoast tumor. All patients received induction chemo-radiation followed by surgery, performed via either a conventional thoracotomy approach (n = 10) or the hybrid VALO approach (n = 10). In the hybrid VALO group, lobectomy and internal chest wall preparation were performed using a video technique, with rib resection and specimen removal through a limited incision. RESULTS: There was no mortality in either group. Two patients from the thoracotomy group required mechanical ventilation, but there was no major morbidity in the hybrid VALO group. The operative times were similar for the two procedures. The average length of hospital stay was shorter and the average pain scores were significantly lower in the hybrid VALO group. The incidence of chronic pain was 10 % in the hybrid VALO group vs. 50 % in the thoracotomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid VALO resection of Pancoast tumors is feasible and safe, resulting in faster patient recovery and a significantly lower incidence of severe chronic pain than open thoracotomy. We conclude that centers experienced with video-assisted lobectomy should consider hybrid VALO surgery as the procedure of choice for Pancoast tumors.