Analysis of prognostic factors for surgery after neo-adjuvant therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer

In order to explore the possibility to predict the risk factors for postoperative complications and survival time, the clinical data of 152 patients (including 116 males and 36 females) who had undergone neo-adjuvant therapy and surgery for stage IIIA and B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, preoperative functional parameters, staging, induction regimen (chemotherapy alone or associated with radiotherapy), associated disorders, and data about operation were collected. Chi-square test and multivariate analysis fitting the unconditional logistic regression model were performed to identify predictors of postoperative complications, while Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were employed to identify predictors of survival time, respectively. The univariate analysis demonstrated that forced expiratory volume in 1 second predicted percent (FEV1%, P=0.040) and associated disorders (P=0.020) were the predictive factors of complications, but multivariate analysis found no independence factors (P>0.05) of it. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that stage (P=0.050) and pneumonectomy (P=0.018) affected the survival time. However, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis demonstrated that only pneumonectomy (P=0.026) was associated with a decreased survival time, but no differences between right and left pneumonectomy were found. The results suggest that the risk factor for postoperative complications is acceptable, and pneumonectomy is associated with increased mortality, which should be performed only in stage III NSCLC patients.