Surgical resection is the only radical method for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Intraoperative frozen section (FS) has the advantages of high accuracy, wide applicability, few complications and real-time diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. It is one of the main means to guide surgical strategies for pulmonary nodules. Therefore, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and other databases for nearly 30 years of relevant literature and research data, held 3 conferences, and formulated this consensus by using the Delphi method. A total of 6 consensus contents were proposed: (1) Rapid intraoperative FS diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases; (2) Diagnosis of lung cancer types including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, others, etc; (3) Diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma infiltration degree; (4) Histological subtype diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma; (5) The treatment strategy of lung adenocarcinoma with inconsistent diagnosis on degree of invasion between intraoperative FS and postoperative paraffin diagnosis; (6) Intraoperative FS diagnosis of tumor spread through air space, visceral pleural invasion and lymphovascular invasion. Finally, we gave 11 recommendations in the above 6 consensus contents to provide a reference for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and guiding surgical decision-making for peripheral non-small cell lung cancer using FS, and to further improve the level of individualized and precise diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer.
In recent years, atezolizumab, a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown clinical efficacies against many different solid malignancies. In late October 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to atezolizumab for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy. With the development of clinical trials, the applications of atezolizumab in lung cancer treatment have gradually expanded. In this review, we summarized the current clinical status of atezolizumab in the treatment of lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of the fluorescence method and the inflation-deflation method in defining the intersegmental plane during thoracoscopic lung segmental resection.MethodsFrom February to October 2018, 60 patients underwent thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy in Thoracic Surgery Department of Nanjing Chest Hospital, with 28 males and 32 females, aged from 25 to 82 years. Three-dimension computed tomography bronchography and angiography was used to reconstruct pulmonary vessels, bronchus and virtual intersegmental plane. Among them, 20 patients used the fluorescence method to define the intersegmental plane, and the other 40 patients used the traditional inflation-deflation method to define the intersegmental plane.ResultsFluorescent injection of indocyanine green (ICG) showed a clear intersegmental line with a duration sufficient to complete the label. With the fluorescence method, the intersegmental plane occurrence time was significantly shortened (10.75±3.78 s vs. 988.00±314.24 s, P<0.001) and had satisfactory repeatability. The lungs did not need to be inflated, which was convenient for the operation. And the operation time was shortened (108.75±31.28 min vs 138.00±32.47 min, P=0.002). No obvious ICG injection-related concurrency symptoms was found.ConclusionCompared with the traditional inflation-deflation method, the fluorescence method can display the intersegmental line quickly, accurately and clearly, reduce the difficulty of surgery, shorten the operation time, and provide reliable technical support for thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy. The fluorescence is a safe and effective method that is worthy of clinical application.
Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of S100A4 protein in tumorstroma of nonsmall cell lung cancer（NSCLC） to study its correlation with invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Methods Immunohistochemical staining（SP method）for S100A4 protein expression was performed in tissue sections from 130 patients with NSCLC operated and to analyze association of S100A4 protein with clinicopathological parameters in lung cancer and prognosis. Results The total positive expression rates of S100A4 protein in stroma of NSCLC was 72.3%. The positive expression rates of S100A4 protein in stroma of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and large cell lung cancer were 84.3%，59.6%，70.0% and 75% respectively.The expression of S100A4 protein was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (χ2=18.91, P=0.000), distant metastasis(χ2=5.51, P=0.019) and TNM stage (χ2=21.54, P=0.000). The 3 years survival rates of patients whose tumourstroma stained positive for S100A4 was lower than that of patients whose tumourstroma stained negative (36.2% vs. 63.9%, P=0.003). Cox’ risk ratio model analysis indicated that age ≤50 years (OR=1.866), lymph node metastasis(OR=1.826), distant metastasis(OR=6.224), lower histology differentiation and undifferentiation (OR=1.793), TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR=2.573) and positive expression of S100A4 protein in stroma of NSCLC(OR=1.776) were significantly independent prognostic factors which affected survival. Conclusion Expression of S100A4 protein in stroma of NSCLC is significantly associated with invasion, metastasis, TNM stage and prognosis. S100A4 protein might become a marker for prediction of tumor progression of disease and clinical therapy.
Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of preferential manual bronchoplasty in single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) upper lobectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of 457 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent single-port VATS lobectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University First Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a preferential manual bronchoplasty group and a traditional single-port VATS lobectomy group with a 1 : 1 propensity score matching for further research. Results A total of 204 patients were matched, and there were 102 patients in each group. There were 50 males and 52 females aged 62.2±10.1 years in the preferential bronchoplasty group, and 49 males and 53 females aged 61.2±10.7 years in the traditional single-port VATS group. The preferential bronchoplasty group had shorter surgical time (154.4±37.0 min vs. 221.2±68.9 min, P<0.01), less bleeding (66.5±116.9 mL vs. 288.6±754.5 mL, P=0.02), more lymph node dissection (19.8±7.5 vs. 15.2±4.7, P<0.01), and a lower conversion rate to multi-port or open surgery (2.3% vs. 13.8%, P=0.04) in left upper lobe resection. In the right upper lobe resection surgery, there was no statistical difference in postoperative results between two groups. There was no perioperative death or occurrence of bronchopleural fistula in both groups. ConclusionCompared with traditional single-port VATS upper lobectomy, preferential bronchoplasty has similar safety and feasibility. In addition, priority bronchoplasty in left upper lobectomy has the advantages of shorter surgical time, less bleeding, more lymph node dissection, and lower conversion rate to multi-port or open surgery.
While lobectomy is the standard surgical procedure for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), sublobectomy (segmentectomy/wedge resection) has been gaining progress in early-stage peripheral NSCLC in recent years because it preserves more lung parenchyma and has the advantages of good postoperative lung function, relatively less trauma, and faster recovery. However, there has been a lack of standardized randomized clinical trials to study the survival benefits of sublobectomy. The results of a high-profile study from the USA, CALGB140503, have been the subject of intense industry debate since its presentation at the 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (IASLC WCLC 2022). The study, which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine on February 9, 2023, was designed to investigate whether sublobectomy was not inferior to lobectomy in terms of survival in patients with early-stage peripheral NSCLC (tumor diameter≤2 cm). The results showed that sublobectomy was not worse than lobectomy for survival in patients with T1aN0M0 peripheral NSCLC with tumor diameter≤2 cm and pathologically confirmed negative hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. Sublobectomy, including anatomical segmentectomy and wedge resection is an effective NSCLC treatment. The results of this study provide strong evidence for the improved outcomes of sublobectomy in terms of lung function protection and are expected to promote the further use of sublobectomy. However, given the limitations of this study, whether sublobectomy, especially wedge resection, can become a standard procedure still needs to be explored. This paper presents an interpretation of this study and we invite experts in the field to discuss its usefulness in guiding clinical practice and summarise its limitations.
Abstract： Objective To analyze the modes and rules of subcarinal lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients， and explore appropriate surgical dissection strategy of subcarinal lymph nodes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods The clinical data of 608 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lung resection and systematic lymph node dissection in Henan Cancer Hospital from September 2002 to October 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 388 males and 220 females with an average age of 62.3 （45-78） years. There were 122 patients with left upper lobe tumor， 119 patients with left lower lobe tumor， 158 patients with right upper lobe tumor， 40 patients with right middle lobe tumor and 169 patients with right lower lobe tumor. Subcarinal lymph node metastasis was observed in 118 patients （19.4%）. There were 244 patients with squamous carcinoma， 285 patients with adenocarcinoma and 79 patients with other types of carcinoma. The relationship of subcarinal lymph node metastasis with tumor location， pathological types and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Results There was statistical difference in subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate among different tumor locations （P=0.000）. Subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate was the highest ［45.8% （54/118）］ in patients with right lower lobe tumor. For patients with different pathological types， subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate was the highest ［55.9% （66/118）］ in patients with adenocarcinoma， and then squamous carcinoma （P=0.034）. Subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate increased with the increase in T staging， and patients with tumors located in the middle or lower lobe of the left or right lung had a significantly higher subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate than patients with upper lobe tumor. Conclusion Subcarinal lymph node metastasis rate are lower in patients with left or right upper lobe tumor， patients with squamous carcinoma whose clinical T staging is within cT 1 .
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of da Vinci robotic surgery for elderly patients with pulmonary lobectomy. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 50 patients in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region of Thoracic Surgery between May 2012 and March 2015.The patients were divided into two groups. Twenty five patients aged over 70 years underwent radical operation of lung cancer with da Vinci Robot System were allocated into a robot group with 17 males and 8 females at age of 72.6 ±2.5 years. Another 25 senile patients with radical surgery by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were allocated into a thoracoscopic group with 17 males and 8 females at age of 72.5±2.4 years. The patients in the two groups underwent pulmonary lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. The clinical effect of the two groups was compared. ResultsAll patients were diagnosed as lung cancer. Twenty five patients all completed surgery under da Vinci Robot System in the robot group. In the thoracoscopic group, one patient was converted to thoracotomy. There were statistical differences in amount of blood loss (66.2±44.2 ml vs. 356.0±349.2 ml, P=0.000), lymph node number (23.2±9.8 vs. 11.3±5.6, P=0.012), and postoperative bed time (3.5±0.9 d vs. 4.2±1.1 d, P=0.017) between the two groups. Effect in the robot group was superior to that in the thoracoscopic group. ConclusionDa Vinci robotic surgery system for elderly patients with lung cancer radical surgery is safe, effective, and less thoracoscopic surgery trauma, recovery faster.
The new effective systemic treatment strategy has "created" many long-term stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors, and surgeons should pay attention to those individual ineffective lesions of long-term survivors. Besides, the new effective systemic treatment strategy may have changed the original concept and population of oligometasis. To intervene the oligo-progression lesions of long-term stage Ⅳ survivors, particularly after effective systemic treatment, at appropriate time with appropriate way might be the main task of surgery in the future.
ObjectiveTo explore the application of Toumai® minimally invasive endoscopic robot in thoracic surgery, and to observe its safety and short-term surgical efficacy. MethodsThree patients were enrolled from October to December 2021, including 1 male (69 years) and 2 females (47 years and 22 years). All 3 patients received surgery with Toumai® endoscopic surgical robot, including radical lung cancer surgery in 2 patients and mediastinal tumor resection in 1 patient. ResultsAll 3 patients were successfully operated without conversion to thoracotomy, complication or death. For the male lobectomy patient, the total operation time was 120 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 100 mL, the catheter drainage time was 4 days and the hospital stay time was 5 days. For the female lobectomy patient, the total operation time was 103 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 100 mL, the catheter drainage time was 4 days and the hospital stay time was 5 days. For the female mediastinal tumor patient, the total operation time was 81 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 50 mL, the catheter drainage time was 3 days and the hospital stay time was 3 days. ConclusionThe Toumai® minimally invasive endoscopic surgical robot is safe and effective in thoracic surgery. Compared with Da Vinci surgical robot, Toumai® has the same 3D visual field experience and smooth operation.