Multiple Pulmonary Resections for Synchronous and Metachronous Lung Cancer at Two Chinese Centers

To determine oncologic and surgical outcomes after multiple pulmonary resections (MPR) for synchronous or metachronous lung cancer with multiple pulmonary sites of involvement and to identify prognostic factors for these patients.

We retrospectively analyzed data from two Chinese high-volume institutions. Eligible patients underwent MPR for synchronous or metachronous lung cancer with multiple pulmonary sites of involvement. Overall survival and disease-free survival after MPR were analyzed, and prognostic factors were explored using multivariable Cox analysis. Postoperative mortality and major morbidities within 30 days were evaluated.

In total, 142 patients were included: 36 (25%) underwent MPR for the metachronous disease, and 106 (75%) underwent MPR for the synchronous disease. Five-year disease-free survival was 85.4% for the metachronous group and 69.1% for the synchronous group; 5-year overall survival was 86.1% and 84.8%, respectively. Five-year accumulated local and distant recurrence rates were 11.9% and 3.0% for the metachronous group and 26.6% and 5.9% for the synchronous group, respectively. In the synchronous MPR group, a larger sum of tumor size (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.08) and regional nodal involvement (HR 6.17; 95% CI, 1.42 to 35.46) were both independently associated with worse overall survival. In the metachronous MPR group, the longer disease-free interval was independently associated with favorable overall survival (HR 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88 to 0.98) and disease-free survival (HR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93 to 0.99). There was no 30-day mortality. The overall rate of major morbidities was 12%.

Multiple pulmonary resection is valid for patients with synchronous and metachronous lung cancer with multiple pulmonary sites of involvement.