How Morphology Shapes Survival in Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) represents a significant proportion of human malignancies affecting various anatomical sites, including the lung. Understanding the prognostic factors is crucial for establishing effective risk stratification in these patients, as multiple critical aspects significantly impact overall survival.

A retrospective study was conducted on 99 patients with operable lung SQCC treated at a tertiary center. The exclusion criteria included patients under 18, those with in situ or metastatic SQCC, and those who received neoadjuvant therapy. The surgical specimens were re-analyzed, and data were collected on multiple variables, including pTNM staging, tumor characteristics, and overall survival (OS). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression models were used to identify significant prognostic factors.

The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a median survival of 36 months with a 65.65% mortality rate. Significant factors influencing survival included keratinization, histological grading, tumor size and stage, pleural invasion, tumor cell arrangement, tumor budding, spread through air space (STAS), and mitotic index. A multiple Cox regression highlighted the nonkeratinizing tumors, advanced pT stages, single-cell invasion, and high mitotic index as key predictors of poorer outcomes. The nonkeratinizing tumors showed higher mortality and shorter median survival rates compared to keratinizing tumors. The tumor staging, cell arrangement, and tumor budding significantly impacted the survival curves.

The study underscores the importance of detailed histopathological evaluations in lung SQCC. The nonkeratinizing tumors, advanced pT stage, single-cell invasion, and high mitotic index were associated with higher hazard rates, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive grading system incorporating these factors to improve prognostic accuracy and guide treatment strategies.