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Subramanian MP, Eaton DB, Labilles UL, Heiden BT, Chang SH, Yan Y, Schoen MW, Patel MR, Kreisel D, Nava RG, Thomas TS, Meyers BF, Kozower BD, Puri V. Exposure to Agent Orange is associated with increased recurrence after surgical treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2024; 167:1591-1600.e2. [PMID: 37709166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Approximately 3 million Americans served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. Veterans have a higher incidence rate of lung cancer compared with the general population, which may be related to exposures sustained during service. Agent Orange, one of the tactical herbicides used by the armed forces as a means of destroying crops and clearing vegetation, has been linked to the development of several cancers including non-small cell lung cancer. However, traditional risk models of lung cancer survival and recurrence often do not include such exposures. We aimed to examine the relationship between Agent Orange exposure and overall survival and disease recurrence for surgically treated stage I non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using a uniquely compiled dataset of US Veterans with pathologic I non-small cell lung cancer. We included adult patients who served in the Vietnam War and underwent surgical resection between 2010 and 2016. Our 2 comparison groups included those with identified Agent Orange exposure and those who were unexposed. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards and Fine and Gray competing risk analyses to examine overall survival and disease recurrence for patients with pathologic stage I disease, respectively. RESULTS A total of 3958 Vietnam Veterans with pathologic stage I disease were identified (994 who had Agent Orange exposure and 2964 who were unexposed). Those who had Agent Orange exposure were more likely to be male, to be White, and to live a further distance from their treatment facility (P < .05). Tumor size distribution, grade, and histology were similar between cohorts. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling identified similar overall survival between cohorts (Agent Orange exposure hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.86-1.09). Patients who had Agent Orange exposure had a 19% increased risk of disease recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.40). CONCLUSIONS Veterans with known Agent Orange exposure who undergo surgical treatment for stage I non-small cell lung cancer have an approximately 20% increased risk of disease recurrence compared with their nonexposed counterparts. Agent Orange exposure should be taken into consideration when determining treatment and surveillance regimens for Veteran patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie P Subramanian
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.
| | - Daniel B Eaton
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo
| | | | - Brendan T Heiden
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Su-Hsin Chang
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Yan Yan
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo; Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Martin W Schoen
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo; Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Mayank R Patel
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo
| | - Daniel Kreisel
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Ruben G Nava
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Theodore S Thomas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Bryan F Meyers
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Benjamin D Kozower
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Varun Puri
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
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Subramanian MP, Eaton DB, Heiden BT, Brandt WS, Labilles UL, Chang SH, Yan Y, Schoen MW, Patel MR, Kreisel D, Nava RG, Thomas T, Meyers BF, Kozower BD, Puri V. Lobe-specific lymph node sampling is associated with lower risk of cancer recurrence. JTCVS Open 2024; 17:271-283. [PMID: 38420561 PMCID: PMC10897676 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Objective Adequate intraoperative lymph node (LN) assessment is a critical component of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resection. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) recommend station-based sampling minimums agnostic to tumor location. Other institutions advocate for lobe-specific LN sampling strategies that consider the anatomic likelihood of LN metastases. We examined the relationship between lobe-specific LN assessment and long-term outcomes using a robust, highly curated cohort of stage I NSCLC patients. Methods We performed a cohort study using a uniquely compiled dataset from the Veterans Health Administration and manually abstracted data from operative and pathology reports for patients with clinical stage I NSCLC (2006-2016). For simplicity in comparison, we included patients who had right upper lobe (RUL) or left upper lobe (LUL) tumors. Based on modified European Society of Thoracic Surgeons guidelines, lobe-specific sampling was defined for RUL tumors (stations 2, 4, 7, and 10 or 11) and LUL tumors (stations 5 or 6, 7, and 10 or 11). Our primary outcome was the risk of cancer recurrence, as assessed by Fine and Gray competing risks modeling. Secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS) and pathologic upstaging. Analyses were adjusted for relevant patient, disease, and treatment variables. Results Our study included 3534 patients with RUL tumors and 2667 patients with LUL tumors. Of these, 277 patients (7.8%) with RUL tumors and 621 patients (23.2%) with LUL tumors met lobe-specific assessment criteria. Comparatively, 34.7% of patients met the criteria for count-based assessment, and 25.8% met the criteria for station-based sampling (ie, any 3 N2 stations and 1 N1 station). Adherence to lobe-specific assessment was associated with lower cumulative incidence of recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.98) and a higher likelihood of pathologic upstaging (aHR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.20-1.86). Lobe-specific assessment was not associated with OS. Conclusions Adherence to intraoperative LN sampling guidelines is low. Lobe-specific assessment is associated with superior outcomes in early-stage NSCLC. Quality metrics that assess adherence to intraoperative LN sampling, such as the CoC Operative Standards manual, also should consider lobe-specific criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie P Subramanian
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Daniel B Eaton
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo
| | - Brendan T Heiden
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Whitney S Brandt
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | | | - Su-Hsin Chang
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Yan Yan
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Martin W Schoen
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Mayank R Patel
- Veterans Affairs St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, Mo
| | - Daniel Kreisel
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Ruben G Nava
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Theodore Thomas
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Bryan F Meyers
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Benjamin D Kozower
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Varun Puri
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
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