Stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma: really an early stage?

Objective: We review our results on surgical treatment of patients with stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma and we attempted to clarify the prognostic significance of some surgical-pathologic variables. Methods: Front 1993 to 1999, 667 patient,, received curative lung resection and complete hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. Of these. there were 436 Stage I disease (65%). of whom 144 T1N0 and 292 T2N0. No patients had pre- or postoperative radio- or chemotherapy. prognostic significance of the following independent variables was tested using univariate (log-rank) and multivariate (Cox proportional-hazards) analysis: type of resection (sublobar vs lobectomy vs pneumonectomy), histology (squamous cell vs adenocarcinoma). tumour size (less than or equal to3 cm vs >3 cm), histologic vascular invasion. visceral pleura involvement. positive bronchial resection margin. general T status, Results: Overall 5-year survival was 63%. In both univariate and multivariate survival analysis significant prognostic factors were histology, (adenocarcinoma 65% vs squamous cell carcinoma 51%), turnout, size (less than or equal to3 cm 67% vs >3 cm 46%), and the presence of negative resection margin. Five-year survival by general T status was 66% in T1N0 vs 55% in T2N0 disease (P = 0.19). Conclusions: Despite advances in early diagnosis and surgical technique, 5-year survival of stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma remains low as compared to survival of other solid organ neoplasm Tumour size less than or equal to3 cm. adenocarcinoma histologic type and negative bronchial resection margins were associated wish a more favourable outcome in our patient population. More effective multimodality treatment,, are needed to increase survival rates. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.