Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Tumor invasion in lung adenocarcinoma is defined as infiltration of stroma, blood vessels, or pleura. Based on observation of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS), we considered whether this could represent new patterns of invasion and investigated whether it correlated with locoregional versus distant recurrence according to limited resection versus lobectomy. ⋯ The presence of STAS is a significant risk factor of recurrence in small lung adenocarcinomas treated with limited resection. These findings support our proposal that STAS should formally be recognized as a pattern of invasion in lung adenocarcinoma.
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We investigated whether a group of pathologists could reproducibly apply the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) classification for lung adenocarcinoma to a cohort of stage 1 tumors and whether this architectural classification and/or other parameters could demonstrate survival advantage. ⋯ In this study of resected stage 1 primary lung adenocarcinoma, we found mitotic index to be the only independent prognostic marker. It was more closely associated with outcome than either pathologic T stage or IASLC/ATS/ERS architecture-based classification. Further validation of concordance and reproducibility in reporting mitotic index, as well as validation of prognostic significance, needs to be undertaken in independent data sets.
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Tumor size is a known prognostic factor for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its significance in node-positive and locally invasive NSCLC has not been extensively characterized. We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to evaluate the prognostic value of tumor size for early stage and node-positive and locally invasive NSCLC. ⋯ Tumor size is an independent prognostic factor, for early stage and node-positive and locally invasive disease. Prediction tools, such as nomograms, incorporating more detailed information not captured in detail by the routine tumor, node, metastasis classification, may improve prediction accuracy of OS in NSCLC.
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Use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in non-small-cell lung cancer remains controversial. Limited data indicate that PORT may benefit patients with involved N2 nodes. This study evaluates this hypothesis in a large retrospective cohort treated with chemotherapy and contemporary radiation techniques. ⋯ PORT was associated with better survival for patients with pN2 nodes also treated with chemotherapy. No interaction was seen between benefit of PORT and number of involved nodes. These findings reinforce the benefit of PORT for N2 disease in modern practice using the largest, most recent cohort of chemotherapy-treated pN2 patients to date.