[pN0 stage IA lung cancer downstaged from pN2 IIIA by induction therapy; report of a case]

A 75-year-old male of adenocarcinoma in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was diagnosed to be p-staged IIIA by a preoperative mediastinoscopy. After the induction chemotherapy of cisplatin (80 mg/m2, day 1, 4 weeks, 2 cycles) plus docetaxel hydrate (60 mg/m2, day 1, 4 weeks, 2 cycles), we performed lobectomy and lymph nodes dissection. The postoperative pathological results showed no metastasis of the resected lymph nodes. The postoperative stage has been down to be pN0 IA from pN2 IIIA. After the adjuvant therapy of docetaxel hydrate (60 mg/m2, day 1, 4 weeks, 2 cycles), the postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level has been normalized without a recurrence for more than 2 years. A pathological staging with a mediastinoscopic diagnosis for the suspected clinical IIIA-staged NSCLC should bring us a good assessment of the induction therapy.