Is there a subset of patients with preoperatively diagnosed N2 non–small cell lung cancer who might benefit from surgical resection?

ObjectiveThe role of surgery in the treatment of preoperatively diagnosed N2 non–small cell lung cancer remains controversial. This study sought significant prognostic factors to select candidates for surgery and assess prognosis.MethodsThe study population included 277 patients who underwent primary resection (192) or induction chemotherapy followed by surgery (85) for preoperatively diagnosed, potentially resectable N2 non–small cell lung cancer. N2 descriptors were prospectively recorded. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to evaluate survival, and statistical significance of differences between curves was assessed by log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multivariate analyses.ResultsPreoperative significant prognostic factors were number of mediastinal node levels involved (P < .001), symptom severity (P = .013), clinical T (P = .041), and induction chemotherapy (P = .001). Three groups with different prognoses were based on individual prognostic score. The group that did best had a median survival of 29.6 months. Postoperative predictors of survival were pathologic T (P = .003), tumor residue (P = .034), and number of mediastinal nodes involved (P < .001). Of 3 groups with different prognoses, the most favorable had a median survival as long as 42 months.ConclusionThis study provides a practical tool that uses significant prognostic factors to predict which patients with preoperatively diagnosed N2 non–small cell lung cancer have better prognoses. Because patients with the favorable prognostic factors showed good long-term survival and excellent local disease control, surgery should still play an important role in the multimodality treatment of these patients.