CHEST-WALL INVASIVE NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - PATTERNS OF FAILURE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR A REVISED STAGING SYSTEM

Background: To assess outcomes and patterns of failure for chest wall invasive non-small cell lung cancer (T-3 or IIIA NSCLC), data were acq uired prospectively on 47 consecutive patients at a single institution over 6 years. Methods: Preresectional stagings included bone scan, he ad and chest/abdominal computed tomography, and mediastinoscopy, There were 25 superior sulcus tumors (radiation and/or chemotherapy followe d by resection) and 22 other chest wall invasive NSCLCs (resection alo ne). Results: There were no perioperative deaths. Seventeen patients ( 36%) had an operative complication (median length of stay increased fr om 7 to 12 days; p < 0.05), A complete pathologic resection was achiev ed for 44 of 47 patients (94%). The median survival was 38 months (act uarial 2- and 5-year survival rates of 62% and 50%, respectively). Med ian lengths of survival for superior sulcus and other chest wall tumor s were 36 and >60 months, respectively. Significant univariate predict ors of decreased overall and cancer-free survival were poor performanc e status, positive margins, and positive lymph nodes. Recurrence was o bserved in 22 of 47 patients (46%) at a median of 8 months (range 2-24 ); patterns of failure were in the ipsilateral chest (n = 2; 4%) and a t a distant site (n = 15; 32%) or both (n = 5; 11%). Conclusions: The operative risk for chest wall invasive NSCLC is acceptable, even after neoadjuvant therapy, allowing for a 94% complete resection rate. The survival of this subset of stage IIIA patients may warrant a reapprais al of the international staging system.