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 (T₃ or IIIA NSCLC), data were acquired prospectively on 47 consecutive patients at a single institution over 6 years. Methods: Preresectional stagings included bone scan, head and chest/abdominal computed tomography, and mediastinoscopy. There were 25 superior sulcus tumors (radiation and/or chemotherapy followed by resection) and 22 other chest wall invasive NSCLCs (resection alone). Results: There were no perioperative deaths. Seventeen patients (36%) had an operative complication (median length of stay increased from 7 to 12 days; p<0.05). A complete pathologic resection was achieved for 44 of 47 patients (94%). The median survival was 38 months (actuarial 2- and 5-year survival rates of 62% and 50%, respectively). Median lengths of survival for superior sulcus and other chest wall tumors were 36 and >60 months, respectively. Significant univariate predictors of decreased overall and cancer-free survival were poor performance status, positive margins, and positive lymph nodes. Recurrence was observed 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 at 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 reappraisal of the international staging system. Presented at the 48th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, March 23–26, 1995.