NEOADJUVANT TREATMENT OF STAGE IIIA NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER - LONG-TERM RESULTS

The multimodality approach to locally advanced Stage III non-small cel l lung cancer is continuing to evolve. In this trial, 54 patients with surgically staged IIIA disease were treated with neoadjuvant chemothe rapy, surgical resection, and chest radiotherapy. Response to four cyc les of CAP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin. cisplatin) was 39% (8% complete responses). One septic death occurred. Thoracotomy w as performed on 31 patients, of whom 29 (56%) were resected and 24 (44 %) were completely resected. Complete resections were more frequently observed in chemotherapy responders. Extranodal mediastinal extension in nonresponding patients was the most frequent reason not to attempt thoracotomy. The overall median times to progression and survival were 11.6 (.7-66.5) and 17.9 (2.8-71.4) months. Long-term disease-free sur vival was observed in 11 patients (20%) with a median follow-up of 46. 5 (24-71) months. All these patients underwent complete resection and constitute 46% of the patients undergoing complete resection. Median t imes to progression and survival were 33.4 (5.0-66.5) and 33.5 (10-71. 4) months for completely resected patients. Although the ability to pe rform surgery identified a population that has favorable locoregional control and disease-free survival, distant relapse continues to repres ent the major obstacle to enhanced survival in resected patients. Unre sected patients, however, are likely to relapse in both local and dist ant sites. Response to chemotherapy may not only enhance systemic cont rol, but may also increase the probability of complete resection. Rand omized trials should be conducted to evaluate the role of individual m odalities (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy) while applying the remaining modalities maximally. The temptation to compare different tr eatment approaches should be resisted.