Completion pneumonectomy and chemoradiotherapy as treatment options in local recurrence of non-small-cell lung cancer

Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients Treated for Lung Cancer: A Review

Cardio-oncology currently faces one of the greatest challenges in the field of health care. The main goal of this discipline is to ensure that patients treated for cancer do not suffer or die from cardiovascular disease. The number of studies on the mechanisms of heart injury during cancer treatment is constantly increasing. However, there is insufficient data on heart rhythm disorders that may result from this treatment. This issue seems to be particularly important in patients with lung cancer, in whom anticancer therapy, especially radiotherapy, may contribute to the onset of cardiac arrhythmias. The observed relationship between cardiac dosimetry and radiotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in lung cancer treatment may explain the increased mortality from cardiovascular causes in patients after chest irradiation. Further research is essential to elucidate the role of cardiac arrhythmias in this context. Conversely, recent reports have highlighted the application of stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia. This review of available studies on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of arrhythmias in patients treated for lung cancer aims to draw attention to the need for regular cardiological monitoring in this group of patients. Improving cardiac care for patients with lung cancer has the potential to enhance their overall therapeutic outcomes.

MiR-187 suppresses non-small-cell lung cancer cell proliferation by targeting FGF9

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main pathological type of lung cancer and has a low overall five-year survival rate. miR-187 has been reported to play major roles in various tumor types. In this study, we explored the impact of miR-187 on NSCLC. qRT-PCR results demonstrated that miR-187 expression is lower in NSCLC and cancer cells than normal tissues and normal lung cells. miR-187 expression levels are associated with tumor size, TNM stage and overall survival rate. MTS and colony formation assays showed that high miR-187 expression inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and colony formation ability, and flow cytometry showed that miR-187 overexpression induces cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. A luciferase reporter assay showed that FGF9 is a target of miR-187. miR-187 overexpression reduces the expression of FGF9, cyclin D1 CDK4 and CDK6. Therefore, miR-187 may present a new NSCLC treatment target by regulates cyclins-related protein expression.

Completion pneumonectomy is safe and effective in select patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Locoregional recurrence rates for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain high, even following curative surgical resection. While national guidelines advocate surgical resection for locoregional recurrence, it is rarely offered when resection would require completion pneumonectomy, which available literature associates with a 12–36% perioperative mortality and 40–80% morbidity. Additionally, survival advantages to radical surgery in this scenario are largely unknown, particularly because available series often include patients undergoing completion pneumonectomy for benign indications or metastatic disease from other primary sites, making extrapolation to primary lung cancer patients challenging. As systemic therapy options continue to evolve, particularly as it relates to immunotherapy, we expect that there will be more and more opportunities for locoregional surgical control. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes following completion pneumonectomy for recurrent NSCLC.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent completion pneumonectomy for recurrent NSCLC at our institution between 2000 and 2015. Factors affecting perioperative morbidity and mortality, as well as overall survival, were analyzed.

Results

Between 2000 and 2015, 28 patients underwent completion pneumonectomy for recurrent lung cancer (14 female, 14 male). The median age was 64.2 years (range, 36.7–84.0). There were 11 left-sided and 17 right-sided operations. Fourteen patients (50.0%) underwent chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy prior to surgery. Perioperative morbidity was seen in 13 of 28 (46.4%) patients, and atrial fibrillation was the most common complication. Mortality at 30- and 90-day intervals was 3.6%, and 14.3% respectively. Five-year overall survival was 43.1% and was not associated with preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy use. Patients over 70 years old (n=5) experienced a statistically higher rate of postoperative complications (100.0% vs. 34.8%, P=0.013), and this translated into a higher mortality rate at 60 and 90 days. Left-sided resections were associated with increased risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLN) compared to right-sided resections (36.4% vs. 0%, P=0.016), and those patients with RLN injury were more likely to be reintubated (50.0% vs. 4.2%, P=0.04). Bronchopleural fistula occurred in 1 patient (3.6%).

Conclusions

Completion pneumonectomy is a viable treatment option for patients with recurrent NSCLC. We attribute our low risks of major morbidity, such as bronchopleural fistula, to careful patient selection and technique. In patients over 70 years, morbidity is higher which should inform discussion regarding surgical options.

Completion pneumonectomy: Indications and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

This retrospective single-center study aims to review the indications and outcomes of completion pneumonectomy after primary resection due to non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods

Of a total of 452 patients who underwent pneumonectomy between January 2004 and August 2017 for non-small cell lung cancer, 29 (24 males, 5 females; mean age 59.9±7.1 years; range, 45 to 72 years) were performed completion pneumonectomy. Patients" indications, factors affecting early and late-term outcomes, operative mortality and survival rates were analyzed.

Results

Operative mortality rate was 24.1%, including two intraoperative and five postoperative deaths. Complication rate was 44.8% and the most frequent complication was bronchopleural fistula with 24.1%. Study population was divided into two groups. While elective completion pneumonectomy group (n=19) consisted of recurrent malignant tumor patients, rescue completion pneumonectomy group (n=10) consisted of patients performed urgent pneumonectomy due to a bronchopulmonary complication developing after an anatomic lung resection. The morbidity and mortality rates for elective completion pneumonectomy and rescue completion pneumonectomy were 26.3% and 21.1%; and 70% and 30%, respectively. The morbidity for rescue completion pneumonectomy was significantly higher than elective completion pneumonectomy (p=0.016). Advanced age and presence of any preoperative risk (comorbidity and neoadjuvant treatment) were related to higher operative mortality (p=0.019 and p=0.049, respectively). The median survival after completion pneumonectomy was 19.5 months (95% confidence interval 17.2 to 21.9 months).

Conclusion

The morbidity and mortality rates of completion pneumonectomy are higher than standard pneumonectomy. Rescue completion pneumonectomy is related to higher postoperative risk, but has better survival. The most significant complication after completion pneumonectomy is bronchopleural fistula. Advanced age and presence of any preoperative risk are related to statistically significantly higher mortality in completion pneumonectomy. Nevertheless, completion pneumonectomy is still a significant treatment option in selected patients.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for central lung tumors, yes we can!

BACKGROUND

SBRT is standard therapy for early stage lung cancer. Toxicity in central tumors has been a concern. RTOG 0813 showed that central SBRT is safe and effective. We report our experience with central SBRT.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of patients treated with SBRT for central lung tumors (< 2 cm of the carina). Patients included primary lung cancer and recurrence following surgery and\ or conventional radiotherapy. All patients underwent 4DCT simulation and treatment planning was done with IMRT or VMAT techniques. Dose to the PTV was prescribed to the 95% isodose line.

RESULTS

Seventy patients, between 5/09 and 4/13, were treated. Patients had early non-small cell lung cancer (n = 13) or locally recurrent lung cancer (n = 29) and pulmonary oligometastases (n = 28). Fifty-seven percent of the patients received BED of 132 with a schedule of 60Gy in 12 Gy fractions. Median follow up time was 18.3 months, 4/70 patients experienced local failure (6%). Median OS for the whole cohort was 4.6 years (CI 3-7 years). Ten patients had grade 1-2 radiation pneumonitis. One patient developed fatal bronchial bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT for central tumors is safe and effective in patients with central disease, reiradiation, recurrence following surgery and in oligometastes.