Treatment outcomes for patients with synchronous multiple primary non-small cell lung cancer

The development of synchronous multiple primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not rare. Nevertheless, the diagnosis, treatment and outcome are controversial. The purposes of this study were to assess the treatment outcomes for patients with synchronous multiple primary NSCLC and to analyze the factors related to this outcome.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of 32 patients with synchronous multiple primary NSCLC who underwent surgical resection between 1995 and 2008.

A total of 68 separate tumors were identified in 32 patients. Fifteen (46.9%) patients underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection, and 17 (53.1%) patients underwent at least one limited resection or photodynamic therapy. The rate of immediate postoperative mortality was 9.4% (N=3). The five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 46.0% and 60.9%, respectively. Small tumor size, similar histology, pN0, and pT1 were associated with better PFS in univariable analyses. Female gender, young age, non-smoker, FEV1/FVC ≥70%, small tumor size, similar histology, and highest pT1 were associated with better OS in univariable analyses.

An aggressive surgical approach offers the greatest chance for long-term survival in patient with synchronous multiple primary NSCLC and several clinical factors were associated with survivals. However, the decision of aggressive surgical treatments for synchronous MPLC should be made carefully in the patients with old age and underlying comorbidities due to poor OS and increased surgical mortality.