Survival and postoperative complications after extended surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer. A retrospective study

We evaluated survival after extended surgery in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and the effects of induction therapy on results and complications.

Between April 1987 and March 1998, 127 patients with pathological T3 (pT3) or T4 (pT4) non-small-cell lung cancer underwent extended surgery combined with resection of neighboring organs. Of these, 35 received induction therapy. In the remaining 92, surgery preceded other therapy. Long-term results and postoperative respiratory complications were analyzed and compared between the patients with and without induction therapy.

Overall 5-year survival after extended surgery was 37%. Five-year survival rates in the pT3 was 41% and that in the pT4 group 28% (p = 0.030). Five-year survival rate in the pN0-1 was 46% and that in the pN2-3 group 26% (p = 0.003). No significant difference was observed in survival curves between patients with and without induction therapy. Induction therapy responders showed better survival than nonresponders. To prevent postoperative fatal complications due to bronchopleural fistula, we prophylactically covered the bronchial stump using autologous tissue in 31 induction therapy patients, and no mortality due to complications was seen in this group.

Long-term survival after extended surgery was observed in pT3 and pT4 patients, especially among those with a pN0-1 status. Induction therapy responders may be considered good candidates for extended surgery because of the favorable prognosis in contrast to that for nonresponders.