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Tumour Size, Level of Visceral Pleura Invasion Can Impact Survival of NSCLC Patients
AURORA, Co -- August 19, 2009 -- A study published in the August issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could be more accurately staged at diagnosis by taking into account the level of visceral pleura invasion (VPI).
Junji Yoshida, MD, National Cancer Center East, Kashiwa, Japan, and colleagues conducted a review of data from the Japanese Joint Committee for Lung Cancer Registration.
After examining the records of 9,758 patients who underwent surgical resection in 1999, the patients were divided into 9 groups based on tumour size and VPI. VPI was defined as tumour extension beyond the elastic layer of the visceral pleura.
On the basis of survival, the 9 groups were divided into the following 5 levels: tumours <= 2 cm without VPI; tumours <= 2 cm with VPI and tumours 2.1 to 3 cm without VPI; tumours 2.1 to 3 cm with VPI and tumours 3.1 to 5 cm without VPI; tumours 3.1 to 5 cm with VPI and tumours 5.1 to 7 cm without VPI; and tumours 5.1 to 7 cm with VPI and tumours > 7 cm without VPI or T3 tumours.
Using the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's staging model, researchers concluded that a tumour <= 7cm with VPI should be upgraded to the next stage in T status.
"This research is extremely necessary in order to fine tune the lung cancer staging guidelines and be sure patients receive the most accurate staging and treatment," said Dr. Yoshida. "Accurate staging and course of treatment can impact the patient's prognosis tremendously."
SOURCE: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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