Prognostic factors in patients with resected pathologic (p-) T1-2N1M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Objectives: To clarify prognostic factors in resected pathologic (p-) T1-2N1M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: A total of 95 consecutive patients who underwent complete tumor resection and mediastinal dissection for pT1-2N1M0 NSCLC between 1976 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. p53 status and proliferative activity were evaluated immunohistochemically.
Results: The extent of N1 stations and p53 status proved to be significant prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rate for tumor without hilar node (#10) involvement was 66%, significantly higher than that for tumor with #10 involvement (39%, P<0.01). The 5-year survival rate for tumor with aberrant p53 expression was 37%, significantly lower than that for tumor without aberrant p53 expression (74%, P<0.01). There proved to be no significant difference in the prognosis between pT1 disease and pT2 disease; the 5-year survival rates for pT1 and pT2 diseases were 62 and 56%, respectively. Age, gender, performance status, grade of tumor differentiation, histological type, or proliferative activity were not significant factors. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors using Cox's proportional hazard model confirmed these results.
Conclusions: Involvement of the hilar node and aberrant p53 expression were significant factors to predict a worse prognosis in resected T1-2N1M0 NSCLC.