Lung cancer : journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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The role of surgery in the treatment of patients with stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a hot topic. Since variable results of surgery versus radiotherapy after induction chemotherapy are being reported, this study aimed to analyze results of surgery after induction chemotherapy and to identify relevant factors influencing outcome in patients with stage IIIA NSCLC. ⋯ Type of surgical resection was the major factor influencing outcome in patients with stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC after induction chemotherapy. These results suggest that patients with stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC may benefit from surgical resection, as long as a lobectomy can be performed.
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Early recognition of lung cancer is a prerequisite for any strategy to improve lung cancer treatment outcome. Here we report a cross-sectional study intended as a proof of principle investigation using breath based detection (exhaled breath condensate, EBC) of angiogenic markers (VEGF, bFGF, angiogenin), TNF-alpha and IL-8 to discriminate 74 individuals, with confirmed presence or absence (X-ray, CT) of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ In a different group of patients that were already treated with two cycles of chemotherapy and who responded with at least a 25% reduction in primary tumor diameter, levels of angiogenic markers were lower compared to patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. We suggest that breath based detection of angiogenic markers may help in the early detection of lung cancer.
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To evaluate the combination of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) and positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) for the diagnosis of small peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) < or = 30 mm in mean diameter. A total of 74 PPLs (69.2%) were diagnosed by TBB using EBUS-GS with X-ray fluoroscopy. ⋯ A significant increment in diagnostic yield with this combination was seen for PPLs >20mm and < or = 30 mm and for malignant lesions. Combination of TBB using EBUS-GS and FDG-PET is useful for the diagnosis of small PPLs.
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The use of gas sensor arrays as medical diagnosis instruments has been proposed several years ago. Since then, the idea has been proven for a limited number of diseases. The case of lung cancer is particularly interesting because it is supported by studies that have shown the correlation between the composition of breath and the disease. ⋯ Results show not only a satisfactory identification rate of lung cancer subjects but also a non-negligible sensitivity to breath modification induced by other affections. Furthermore, the effects of some compounds frequently found in the breath of lung cancer subjects have also been studied. Results indicate that breath samples of control individuals drift towards the lung cancer group when added with either single or mixtures of these alleged cancer-related compounds.