Results of Pulmonary Resection: Other Epithelial Malignancies.

This article summarizes the interdisciplinary work, survival, prognostic factors, and prognostic groups for lung metastases from breast cancer and renal cell cancer. Furthermore, the prevalence of lymph node metastases and the importance of a systematic lymph node dissection in metastasectomy of breast cancer and renal cell cancer for a true R0 resection are discussed.

Risk factors for lymph node metastases and prognosticators of survival in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Systematic lymph node dissection is not routinely performed in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) of colorectal cancer. The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for lymph node metastases (LNM) and to determine prognosticators for survival in colorectal cancer patients with pulmonary metastases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database of 165 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing PM and systematic lymph node dissection with curative intent from 1999 to 2009. The χ(2) test, regression analyses, Kaplan-Meier analyses, log rank tests, and Cox regression analyses were used to determine prognosticators for LNM and survival. RESULTS: The prevalence of LNM was 22.4%. Lymph node metastases were more often detected in case of rectal cancer and if anatomic resections in term of segmentectomy or lobectomy had to be performed for PM. The number of pulmonary metastases showed a nonlinear association with the risk of positive postoperative LNM. For 1 to 10 pulmonary metastases, each additional pulmonary metastasis conferred a 16% increase in risk for LNM. Rectal cancer, M-status of the primary tumor, number of pulmonary metastases, and disease progression during pre-PM chemotherapy were independent prognosticators for survival. Lymph node metastases were not an independent prognosticator. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal cancer, required anatomic resections, and multiple metastases were risk factors for LNM. Rectal cancer, M-status of the primary tumor, number of pulmonary metastasis, and disease progression during pre-PM chemotherapy were independent negative predictors of survival, stratifying patients with poor prognosis who may benefit from chemotherapy before or after PM.

Metastasectomy with standardized lymph node dissection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: an 11-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma is an established method of treatment for selected patients. The incidence of intrathoracic lymph node metastases (ITLNM) and outcomes remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of ITLNM and long-term outcome of PM for metastatic kidney cancer. METHODS: From January 1999 to December 2009, 116 patients (82 men, age 61.7 ± 9.0 years) with metastases from kidney cancer underwent PM and systematic lymph node dissection with curative intent. Kaplan-Meier analyses, log-rank test, and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate survival and to determine prognosticators of survival. RESULTS: Overall survival rates were 49% at 5 years and 21% at 10 years (median survival, 56.6 ± 9.2 months). Complete resections could be achieved in 108 patients (93.1%). Forty patients (34.5%) had systematic therapy before metastasectomy. Partial regression was observed in 11 patients (27.5%). Surgical morbidity and mortality rates were 13.8% (16 of 116) and 0.9% (1 of 116), respectively. ITLNM were found in 54 (46.6%). Patient age (≥ 70 years; p = 0.003), female gender (p = 0.016), and number of metastases (≥ 2 metastases; p = 0.012) were associated with inferior survival after PM in the univariate analysis. The presence of ITLNM and type of lung resection did not significantly affect survival. Patient age remained the only significant prognostic factor when a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was applied. CONCLUSIONS: PM and systematic lymph node dissection can be performed safely with low morbidity and mortality. Long-term survival is achievable in selected patients even with ITLNM. We recommend that systematic lymph node dissection should be demanded in every patient due to the high prevalence of ITLNM. Patients aged 70 years or older should be selected carefully for PM.

Factors predicting poor survival after lung-sparing radical pleurectomy of IMIG stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma.

OBJECTIVES: The role of radical pleurectomy (RP) in the management of IMIG stage III in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and outcome as well as to determine factors predicting poor survival. METHODS: Patients having IMIG stage III MPM were identified within a prospective multimodality treatment study (RP followed by chemoradiation) between 2002 and 2010 at a single institution. Kaplan-Meier analyses, log-rank test and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate survival and to determine predictors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients (66.3 ± 2.5 years, 65 males) underwent RP followed by chemoradiation. A total of 42 (54%) had IMIG stage III. Mortality and morbidity were 4.8 and 31%, respectively. Median survival and 5-year survival were 21 months and 28%, respectively, for stage III patients. Progression-free survival was 11 months. The sites of failure were predominantly locoregional (20/42, 47.6%). Pathological detection of tumour spread at the resected thoracoscopy incisions (median survival 12 vs 35 months, P < 0.001), incomplete resections (median survival 13 vs 35 months, P = 0.01) and male gender (median survival 18 vs 68 months, P < 0.039) were associated with inferior survival in the univariate analyses. Histology, lymph node metastases, laterality and age had no significant impact on survival. The tumour spread at the resected previous incisions remained the only significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.3; P = 0.027) in the multivariate analysis. Patients having tumour spread had survival comparable to that of patients at stage IV in the complete patient cohort (median survival 12 vs 8 months; P = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Lung-sparing RP for IMIG stage III MPM is feasible and offers promising long-term survival. The tumour spread at the resected previous incisions is associated with more incomplete resections and was a negative prognosticator for long-term survival. The tumour spread at the resected previous incisions or chest tube sites should be considered as T4 or stage IV according to the IMIG staging system.

The influence of the primary tumor on the long-term results of pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate one of the primary tumor (PT) on pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to define prognostic factors. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with pulmonary metastases from RCC from January 1999 through December 2008 was performed. All patients underwent PM with curative intend. TNM-classification, tumor stage and PT grade, disease-free-interval (DFI) from nephrectomy to the diagnosis of metastasis, systemic chemotherapy before surgical intervention, surgical procedures, morbidity, mortality, and survival were investigated. RESULTS: One-hundred seven consecutive patients (age 61.5 ± 9.6 years) underwent PM. Morbidity and mortality rates were 15.0 and 0.9%, respectively. Thirty-six patients (33.6%) had systematic therapy before PM. Complete resections could be achieved in 104 patients (97.2%). Mean survival was 63.4 ± 5.1 months. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 47 and 9%, respectively. Advanced N-Status (p < 0.001), grade (p < 0.001) and stage group (stage I/II vs. III/IV, p = 0.022) of the PT were associated with inferior survival in the univariate analysis. T-Status (p = 0.89) and M-Status (p = 0.96) of the PT had no significant impact on survival. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, N-Status and tumor grade were the only significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: PM can be performed safely. Long-term survival is achievable in selected patients. Nodal disease and high tumor grade of the PT at the time of the initial nephrectomy were associated with worse survival after PM. These results might help to identify a high-risk group of patients who might benefit from enrollment in adjuvant therapy protocols after primary treatment of RCC.