Surgical Resection for Residual N2 Disease After Induction Chemotherapy

Background Induction therapy is a common treatment modality for patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although mediastinal nodal downstaging after induction therapy is generally considered a favorable prognostic feature, the benefit of resection in the presence of residual N 2 disease is controversial. In this study we analyzed our experience with resection after induction chemotherapy in patients with residual N 2 disease to more precisely define the role of surgical resection in this group of patients. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed the records of 78 patients with N 2 disease who received induction therapy with preoperative intent between 1990 and 2003. All patients had potentially resectable disease. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate multiple prognostic factors. Results There were 78 patients (39 men) with a median age of 64 years. Sixty had nonsquamous histology. Resection was performed in 52 patients (47 R 0 ). Hospital mortality was 1.9%. A complete pathologic response occurred in 2 of 52 (3.8%) patients and 19 of 52 (36%) patients had no residual N 2 disease. Overall 5-year survival for resected patients was 23%. Overall 5-year survival was 30% for N 0 -N 1 patients and 19% for those with residual N 2 disease. Multivariable analysis identified clinical response to therapy ( p = 0.0007) and histology ( p = 0.01), but not residual N 2 disease ( p = 0.65), as important prognostic variables. Conclusions Surgical resection may be a viable option for patients with residual N 2 disease after induction chemotherapy, provided an R 0 resection can be performed.