Prognostic role of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level in part-solid lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Part-solid lung adenocarcinoma appears as a heterogeneous subgroup, and its surgical management is controversial. This study aimed to elucidate whether preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen, a time-honored tumor marker, can be used as a prognostic factor that contributes to its management.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with clinical-T1a-cN0M0 part-solid adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection between January 2011 and December 2015 at two institutions.

RESULTS

Overall, 288 patients were identified. The median age was 69 years with 176 patients (61%) being female. The median follow-up time was 5.6 years. Lymph node metastases were found in 6 (15%) of 41 patients with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels, while 10 (4.0%) of 247 patients had normal carcinoembryonic antigen levels (P = 0.016). The 5-year overall survival rates in patients with normal and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels were 96.9% and 87.2%, respectively (P = 0.006), and the 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 91.8% and 62.8%, respectively (P < 0.001). The multivariable analysis revealed that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level was a significant prognostic factor for relapse-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.63-5.25, P < 0.001). Among the patients with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels, the 5-year overall survival rates in those undergoing lobar resection and segmentectomy were 87.0% and 88.9%, respectively (P = 0.59), and the 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 61.7% and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level appears to be an important predictor of postoperative survival outcomes in early-stage part-solid adenocarcinoma. Further studies are required to optimize management of patients with elevated preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels, although segmentectomy appeared acceptable in those patients.

High programmed death ligand 1 expression in carcinomatous components predicts a poor prognosis in pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression of 46 patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma to better understand its clinical behavior and factors affecting the survival.

METHODS

Data of patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinomas resected in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The tumors were classified as carcinomatous or sarcomatous according to the tissue components. Pathological characteristics were evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. The percentages of tumor cells with membrane staining for PD-L1 in carcinomatous and sarcomatous components were determined.

RESULTS

We reviewed data of 46 patients (41 males, 5 females; median age 70.5 years old, range 36-83 years old). Most patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma expressed PD-L1 (80.4%), and the proportion of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was significantly higher in sarcomatous components than in carcinomatous components. In univariable analyses, high p-stage (III), necrosis on pathological findings, and high PD-L1 expression in carcinomatous components (≥ 50%) were poor prognostic factors for the overall survival. In multivariable analyses, high PD-L1 expression in carcinomatous components was significantly associated with a poor prognosis after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

High PD-L1 expression in carcinomatous components was significantly associated with a poor prognosis after surgery.

Expert consensus on resection of chest wall tumors and chest wall reconstruction

Chest wall tumors are a relatively uncommon disease in clinical practice. Most of the published studies about chest wall tumors are usually single-center retrospective studies, involving few patients. Therefore, evidences regarding clinical conclusions about chest wall tumors are lacking, and some controversial issues have still to be agreed upon. In January 2019, 73 experts in thoracic surgery, plastic surgery, science, and engineering jointly released the Chinese Expert Consensus on Chest Wall Tumor Resection and Chest Wall Reconstruction (2018 edition). After that, numerous experts put forward new perspectives on some academic issues in this version of the consensus, pointing out the necessity to further discuss the points of contention. Thus, we conducted a survey through the administration of a questionnaire among 85 experts in the world. Consensus has been reached on some major points as follows. (I) Wide excision should be performed for desmoid tumor (DT) of chest wall. After excluding the distant metastasis by multi-disciplinary team, solitary sternal plasmacytoma can be treated with extensive resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. (II) Wide excision with above 2 cm margin distance should be attempted to obtain R0 resection margin for chest wall tumor unless the tumor involves vital organs or structures, including the great vessels, heart, trachea, joints, and spine. (III) For patients with chest wall tumors undergoing unplanned excision (UE) for the first time, it is necessary to carry out wide excision as soon as possible within 1–3 months following the previous surgery. (IV) Current Tumor Node Metastasis staging criteria (American Joint Committee on Cancer) of bone tumor and soft tissue sarcoma are not suitable for chest wall sarcomas. (V) It is necessary to use rigid implants for chest wall reconstruction once the maximum diameter of the chest wall defect exceeds 5 cm in adults and adolescents. (VI) For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the chest wall, wide excision with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy are recommended for patients with stage T_3-4N_0-1M₀. As clear guidelines are lacking, these consensus statements on controversial issues on chest wall tumors and resection could possibly serve as further guidance in clinical practice during the upcoming years.

POU2F3 beyond thymic carcinomas: expression across the spectrum of thymomas hints to medullary differentiation in type A thymoma

The thymic medulla comprises various cell types, including tuft cells that are involved in innate immunity. We recently reported that in Western cohorts of patients, most thymic squamous cell carcinomas (TSQCCs), in contrast to thymomas, exhibit strong and extensive expression of tuft cell markers, including the tuft cell master regulator, POU2F3. On closer inspection of 94 thymomas that cover the full spectrum of thymoma histotypes, we now find by immunohistochemistry that approximately half of types A, AB, and B1 thymomas contain small numbers (< 10%) of cells expressing POU2F3, while most types B2 and B3 thymomas do not (p < 0.05). Further, in rarer types A and AB thymomas with adenoid growth pattern, POU2F3( +) cells formed aggregates and co-expressed KIT, as did the tumor cells in 100% (9/9) of TSQCCs expressing POU2F3. However, the expression of another tuft cell marker, L1CAM, still distinguished TSQCC from the spectrum of thymomas that were all L1CAM-negative. This study is the first to demonstrate the high frequency of POU2F3 expression in an Asian cohort of TSQCCs. The common occurrence of scattered POU2F3( +) cells in types A and AB thymomas hints at their variable degree of medullary differentiation and supports the historical hypothesis of the medullary nature of type A thymomas. Immunohistochemistry of L1CAM may be a valuable tool to differentiate TSQCCs from thymomas.

Clinical, radiological, and pathological features of idiopathic and secondary interstitial pneumonia cases with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis undergoing lung transplantation

AIMS

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and pathological PPFE is also observed in secondary interstitial pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the pathological findings associated with radiological PPFE-like lesions and the clinical and morphological features of patients with pathological PPFE.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively reviewed the pathology of the explanted lungs from 59 lung transplant recipients with radiological PPFE-like lesions. Pathological PPFE lesions were identified in 14 patients with idiopathic cases and 12 patients with secondary cases. Pathological PPFE was associated with previous pneumothorax, a volume loss in the upper lobes and a flattened chest. Patients with idiopathic and secondary cases with pathological PPFE had similar clinical, radiological, and pathological findings, while fibroblastic foci were more common in patients with idiopathic cases, and patients with secondary cases more frequently showed alveolar septal thickening with elastosis or fibrosis. Post-transplantation survival did not differ between patients with idiopathic and secondary cases with pathological PPFE (log-rank; P=0.57) and was similar between patients with idiopathic cases with pathological PPFE and patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (log-rank; P = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Not all patients with interstitial pneumonia with radiological PPFE-like lesions have pathological PPFE. Characteristic clinical features can suggest the presence of pathological PPFE, and idiopathic and secondary cases with pathological PPFE are similar except for fibroblastic foci in idiopathic cases and alveolar septal thickening with elastosis or fibrosis in secondary cases. Patients with pathological PPFE have a similar prognosis to those with IPF after transplantation.

Effect of prior thoracic radiotherapy on prognosis in relapsed small cell lung cancer patients treated with anlotinib: a subgroup analysis of the ALTER 1202 trial

Background

In ALTER 1202, anlotinib prolonged the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The aim of this study was to explore the effect of front-line thoracic radiotherapy (RT) on the benefits of anlotinib as a third-line-or-beyond treatment.

Methods

This was a subgroup analysis of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial (ALTER 1202). The participants were divided into RT (previous thoracic RT) and non-RT subgroups. The outcomes included PFS, OS, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety.

Results

In the ALTER 1202 trial, 68 participants (anlotinib, n=46; placebo, n=22) received RT and 51 participants (anlotinib, n=35; placebo, n=16) did not. PFS was longer for anlotinib versus placebo in both the RT (5.49 vs. 0.69 months; P<0.001) and non-RT (2.83 vs. 0.76 months; P<0.001) subgroups. In the RT subgroup, the OS was longer for anlotinib vs. placebo (9.49 vs. 4.90 months; P=0.039). No differences were found in the ORR, but the DCR was higher in the anlotinib arm of the RT subgroup compared with the placebo arm (73.9% vs. 9.1%, P<0.001) and the non-RT subgroup (68.6% vs. 18.8%; P=0.002).

Conclusions

In relapsed SCLC patients with previous thoracic RT, anlotinib might have DCR, PFS, and OS benefits compared with placebo. In those without previous thoracic RT patients, anlotinib might have DCR and PFS benefits compared with placebo. The safety was similar between anlotinib and placebo groups.

Living-Donor Lung Transplantation for Post-COVID-19 Respiratory Failure

This report describes a case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–associated respiratory failure requiring urgent living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLTx). Severe hypoxia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) developed in a 57-year-old woman with positive viral status. Her respiratory function deteriorated, with almost totally collapsed lungs. All of her other organs functioned well. After 104 days of ECMO support, she underwent urgent LDLLTx using cardiopulmonary bypass. The grafts worked well, and she was weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass after reperfusion. LDLLTx is an option for selected patients with post–COVID-19 end-stage respiratory failure.

Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy versus virtual bronchoscopy navigation for improving the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions: analysis of the predictors of successful diagnosis

PURPOSE

To investigate if electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) improves the diagnostic yield for peripheral lung lesions from that achieved by virtual bronchoscopy navigation (VBN).

METHODS

This retrospective study compared the results of 100 ENB-transbronchial lung biopsies (TBLBs) with those of 50 VBN-TBLBs at a single institution.

RESULTS

ENB improved the diagnostic yield significantly compared with VBN (64.0% for 19.4 ± 9.0 mm tumors vs. 46.0% for 27.6 ± 8.9 mm tumors; p < 0.0001). Irrespective of the bronchus sign, ENB was more favorable than VBN, with 81.0% (47/58) achieved by ENB vs. 60.0% (21/35) achieved by VBN in the presence of the positive bronchus sign (p = 0.0283), and 40.5% (17/42) achieved by ENB vs. 13.3% (2/15) achieved by VBN in the absence of the bronchus sign (p = 0.0431). Univariate analysis identified tumor size (p = 0.0048), amount of intravenous sedation (p = 0.0182), registration time (p = 0.0111), minimum distance to target (p = 0.0244), and the bronchus sign (p < 0.0001) as factors that affected the yield significantly for ENB. Multivariate analysis identified the bronchus sign (odds ratio 6.74; 95% CI 1.84-24.7) and the registration time (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.02) as significant factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the bronchus sign being a significant factor, ENB improved the diagnostic yield of smaller lesions significantly, compared with VBN, regardless of the bronchus sign.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a first-line treatment for postoperative recurrent and EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer

 

OBJECTIVES

To clarify survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line treatment for postoperative recurrence.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify consecutive patients who received EGFR-TKIs as first-line treatment for postoperative recurrence of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring EGFR gene mutations at our institution between August 2002 and October 2020. Therapeutic response, adverse events, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Survival outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariable and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients were included in the study. The objective response and disease control rates were 53% and 92%, respectively. Grade 3 or greater adverse events were noted in 4 (6.3%) patients, including 1 patient (1.6%) of interstitial pneumonia. The median follow-up period was 28.5 months (range 3–202 months). The total number of events was 43 for PFS and 23 for OS, respectively. The median PFS was 18 months, and the median OS was 61 months after EGFR-TKI treatment. In multivariable analysis, osimertinib showed a tendency to prolong PFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12–1.1; P = 0.071], whereas the micropapillary component was significantly associated with shorter OS (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.02–6.9; P = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

EGFR-TKIs as first-line treatment appeared to be a reasonable treatment option in selected patients with postoperative recurrent EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Osimertinib and the micropapillary component may be prognostic factors.

Impacts of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Fc gamma receptor IIA (rs1801274) on lung transplant outcomes among Japanese lung transplant recipients

This study aimed to analyze the influences of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Fc gamma receptor IIA (FCGR2A) on postoperative outcomes after lung transplantation (LTx). We enrolled 191 lung transplant recipients (80 undergoing living-donor lobar lung transplants [LDLLTs] and 111 undergoing deceased-donor lung transplants [DDLTs]) in this study. We identified SNPs in FCGR2A (131 histidine [H] or arginine [R]; rs1801274) and reviewed the infectious complication-free survival after ICU discharge. The SNPs in FCGR2A comprised H/H (n=53), H/R (n=24), and R/R (n=3) in LDLLT, and H/H (n=67), H/R (n=42), and R/R (n=2) in DDLT. Recipients with H/H (H/H group) and those with H/R or R/R (R group) were compared in the analyses of infectious complications. In multivariate analyses, the R group of SNPs in FCGR2A was associated with pneumonia-free survival (HR: 2.52 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.35-4.71], p=0.004), fungal infection-free survival (HR: 2.50 [95% CI: 1.07-5.84], p=0.035), and cytomegalovirus infection-free survival (HR: 2.24 [95% CI: 1.07-4.69], p=0.032) in LDLLT but it was not associated with infectious complication-free survival in DDLT. Therefore, in LDLLT, more attention to infectious complications might need to be paid for LTx recipients with H/R or R/R than for those with H/H.

Updated long-term outcomes of salvage surgery after stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer

There is dearth of data regarding the long-term survival outcomes of salvage surgery after stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer, as previous studies have included a short follow-up period. There is also scarce information on the management of re-relapse in previous studies. This study examined the long-term survival outcomes of patients who underwent salvage surgery for isolated local relapse (LR). We reviewed consecutive patients who underwent salvage surgery for isolated LR after stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer between 1999 and 2015. All patients were followed up until death or at least 5 years from salvage surgery. Twelve patients were included for analysis. The median follow-up from isolated LR was 62.4 (range: 14.3-152.1) months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 58.3%, updated from 79.5% in our previous report. During the interim, new re-relapses did not occur, whereas there were 5 additional deaths. The median survival after re-relapse was 32.6 months. Our follow-up report confirmed that our patient selection for salvage surgery appeared to be appropriate and that long-term follow-up is required to assess the outcomes of patients undergoing salvage surgery. Long-term follow-up would provide detailed information on late re-relapses, treatment and outcomes of re-relapses and mortality from any causes.

Lymph node dissection in thymic carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas

OBJECTIVES

Although lymph node (LN) metastases are not uncommon in thymic carcinomas, preoperative LN evaluation, intraoperative lymph node dissection (LND) and postoperative outcomes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of and outcomes in patients with thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine carcinomas undergoing LND.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed using our multi-institutional database to identify patients who underwent resection and LND for thymic carcinoma or thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma between 1991 and 2018. An enlarged mediastinal LN was defined as having a short-axis diameter >1 cm. We assessed survival outcomes using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

N1-level LND was performed in 41 patients (54.6%), N2-level LND in 14 patients (18.7%) and both-level LND in 16 patients (21.3%). Pathological LN metastasis was detected in 20 patients (26.7%) among the 75 patients undergoing LND. There was a significant difference in the number of LN stations (P = 0.015) and metastasis factor (P = 0.0042) between pathologically LN-positive and pathologically LN-negative patients. The sensitivity of enlarged LNs on preoperative computed tomography was 18.2%. There was a tendency towards worse overall survival of pathologically N2-positive patients, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CT appears to play a limited role in detecting pathological LN metastases. Our findings suggest that the significance of N1- and N2-level LND should be evaluated in prospective studies to optimize the postoperative management of patients with thymic carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Prognostic factors related to postoperative survival in the newly classified clinical T4 lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

T4 lung cancer has become a more heterogeneous group since the 8th edition of tumour, node, metastasis classification. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors related to post-surgical survival in patients with clinical T4 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), based on the 8th edition of the classification.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with clinical T4 NSCLC who underwent resection between January 2006 and December 2016, to identify factors associated with overall survival.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were identified. The criteria for clinical T4 disease included tumours larger than 7 cm (n = 54), great vessels or left atrial invasion (n = 22), mediastinal invasion (n = 11), vertebral invasion (n = 3), tracheal or carina invasion (n = 3), diaphragm invasion (n = 1) and ipsilateral different lobe pulmonary metastasis (n = 2). The postoperative nodal status was 0, 1, 2 and 3 in 59, 18, 15 and 1 patient, respectively. R0 resection was achieved in 80 patients, and the 30-day mortality was 0%. The median follow-up time was 37.6 months, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 56.3%. The multivariable analysis revealed that nodal status and R-status were significant prognostic factors for postoperative survival [hazard ratio (HR) 2.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-5.72, P = 0.016 and HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.45-7.44, P = 0.004].

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery provided encouraging survival outcomes for clinical T4 NSCLC based on the 8th edition of classification. The nodal status and R-status were significant prognostic factors for postoperative survival.

Validation Study of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Histologic Grading System of Invasive Lung Adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

A histologic grading system for invasive lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) has been proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Pathology Committee in June 2020. This study evaluated the prognostic value of the IASLC histologic grading system (the IASLC system) in a large Japanese cohort.

METHODS

We performed comprehensive histologic subtyping using the semiquantitative estimation of five major patterns and complex glandular patterns in patients with a completely resected lung ADC and determined the histologic grade using the IASLC system. Concordance index and receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the clinical utility of the IASLC system for recurrence and death; the comparison was performed with the architectural-pattern system (the Arch system) and the grading system on the basis of the two most predominant patterns (the Sica's system).

RESULTS

Of 1002 patients with invasive ADC, 235 had recurrent disease and 166 died of lung cancer. The concordance index and area under the curve of the IASLC system were 0.777 and 0.807 for recurrence and 0.767 and 0.776 for death, respectively. These were similar to those of the Arch system (0.763 and 0.796 for recurrence, 0.743 and 0.755 for death) and the Sica's system (0.786 and 0.814 for recurrence, 0.762 and 0.773 for death).

CONCLUSIONS

We reported that the IASLC system for invasive lung ADC has prognostic significance by evaluating a large Japanese cohort. We believe that the IASLC grading system will provide physicians with better information for postsurgery treatment.

Patient-reported dyspnea and health predict waitlist mortality in patients waiting for lung transplantation in Japan

BACKGROUND

Waitlist mortality due to donor shortage for lung transplantation is a serious problem worldwide. Currently, the selection of recipients in Japan is mainly based on the registration order. Hence, scientific evidence for risk stratification regarding waitlist mortality is urgently needed. We hypothesized that patient-reported dyspnea and health would predict mortality in patients waitlisted for lung transplantation.

METHODS

We analyzed factors related to waitlist mortality using data of 203 patients who were registered as candidates for lung transplantation from deceased donors. Dyspnea was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and the health status was determined with St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

RESULTS

Among 197 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the main underlying disease was interstitial lung disease (99 patients). During the median follow-up period of 572 days, 72 patients died and 96 received lung transplantation (69 from deceased donors). Univariable competing risk analyses revealed that both mMRC dyspnea and SGRQ Total score were significantly associated with waitlist mortality (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively) as well as age, interstitial lung disease, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and forced vital capacity. Multivariable competing risk analyses revealed that the mMRC and SGRQ score were associated with waitlist mortality in addition to age and interstitial lung disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Both mMRC dyspnea and SGRQ score were significantly associated with waitlist mortality, in addition to other clinical variables such as patients' background, underlying disease, and pulmonary function. Patient-reported dyspnea and health may be measured through multi-dimensional analysis (including subjective perceptions) and for risk stratification regarding waitlist mortality.

Which Is the Best Treatment in Recurrent Thymoma? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary

Thymomas are rare tumors developing in the anterior mediastinum. Despite their usually indolent behavior, recurrence might occur in 5–15% of cases. Considering their rarity, the optimal recurrence treatment is still unclear even if surgical treatment seems to ensure a remarkable long-term survival compared to chemo- or radiotherapy. However, the major part of studies report low patient numbers, and it is difficult to plan prospective studies due to tumor characteristics, long follow-up and rarity of cases. For these reasons, we planned a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing surgical treatment with other therapies, in order to identify the best treatment for these patients. Our meta-analysis included more than 700 patients showing that surgical treatment seems to be associated with a better survival compared to other treatments and should be considered where feasible.

Abstract

Background: Optimal recurrent thymoma management remains arguable because of limited patient numbers, and relatively late and variable recurrence patterns. Given the absence of high-quality evidence and relatively small study cohorts, we performed a quantitative meta-analysis to determine the outcome of surgical and non-surgical approaches assessing the five-year overall survival (5y overall survival (OS)) in patients with recurrent thymoma. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search and analysis according to PRISMA guidelines of studies published from 1 January 1980 until 18 June 2020 from PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus. We included studies with the cohorts’ superior to 30 patients describing recurrent thymoma treatment, comparing surgical and non-surgical approaches reporting survival data. Results: Literature search revealed 3017 articles. Nine studies met all inclusion criteria and were selected for the meta-analysis. The recurrences were local/regional in 73–98% of cases and multiple in 49–72%. After treatment, 5y OS ranged from 48–77% and 10y OS from 37–51%. The quantitative meta-analysis showed a better outcome comparing surgical vs other treatments. Two studies showed statistically significant risk differences in the 5y OS favoring complete resection. After pooling results of seven studies using the random model, the combined 5y OS risk difference was 0.39, with lower and upper limits of 0.16 and 0.62, respectively (p = 0.001), and a moderate heterogeneity among studies (p = 0.098, I2 = 43.9%). Definitive conclusions could not be drawn regarding the prognostic impact of myasthenia gravis, histology, and patterns of relapse reported in literature. Conclusions: Surgical treatment after thymoma recurrence is associated with a significant better 5y OS; therefore, surgical resection should be preferred in all technically feasible cases.

Involved-Field Irradiation in Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Locoregional Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Results From the ESO-Shanghai 1 Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of involved-field irradiation in definitive chemoradiation therapy for locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patterns in recurrence and elective nodal failure were analyzed in patients from the previously published ESO-Shanghai 1 trial, who received definitive chemoradiation therapy with involved-field irradiation to 61.2 Gy in 34 fractions using intensity modulated radiation therapy planning. Nodal regions were delineated using the lymph node map from the sixth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Elective nodal failure was defined as recurrence in the regional nodal area outside the planning target volume. Extensive elective nodal failure, defined as an extensive nodal area regardless of tumor location, was calculated for additional analysis. The incidental (ie, mean) irradiation dose of each node and each region was evaluated.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 48.7 months among survivors, the 3-year actuarial rate for overall survival was 53.6%, and the median overall survival was 44.8 months (95% confidence interval, 34.6-55.0). Of the 436 patients included in this study, 258 patients (59.2%) experienced treatment failure. Elective nodal failure was experienced by 37 patients (8.5%), 7 (1.6%) of whom encountered nodal-only failure. The 3-year actuarial rates of elective nodal control and elective nodal-only control were 89.7% and 97.9%, respectively. The median incidental dose of these nodes was 33.2 Gy (interquartile range [IQR], 1.3-50.7 Gy). The median distance of each node to the planning target volume was 1.4 cm (IQR, 0.6-4.9 cm). Extensive elective nodal failure was experienced by 51 patients (11.6%), and 20 (4.6%) patients had nodal-only failure. The 3-year extensive elective nodal control and extensive elective nodal control-only rates were 86.0% and 94.3%, respectively. The median incidental dose of these nodes was 23.2 Gy (IQR, 1.1-53.5 Gy). The median distance of each node to the planning target volume was 2.0 cm (IQR, 0.6-5.5 cm).

CONCLUSION

Involved-field irradiation can achieve a low rate of isolated nodal failure and a satisfactory survival outcome. The use of elective nodal irradiation may be unnecessary in definitive chemoradiation therapy for the treatment of locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.