Objective To compare the long-term outcomes among robotic, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and open lobectomy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Summary Background Data Survival comparisons between robotic, VATS, and open lobectomy in NSCLC have not yet been reported. Some studies have suggested that survival following VATS is superior, for unclear reasons. Methods Three cohorts (robotic, VATS, and open) of clinical stage I NSCLC patients were matched by propensity score and compared to assess overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcomes. Results From January 2002 to December 2012, 470 unique patients (172 robotic, 141 VATS, and 157 open) were included in the analysis. The robotic approach harvested a higher number of median stations of lymph nodes (5 for robotic vs 3 for VATS vs 4 for open; P<0.001). Patients undergoing minimally invasive approaches had shorter median length of hospital stay (4 days for robotic vs 4 days for VATS vs 5 days for open; P<0.001). The 5-year OS for the robotic, VATS, and open matched groups were 77.6%, 73.5%, and 77.9%, respectively without a statistically significant difference; corresponding 5-year DFS were 72.7%, 65.5%, and 69.0%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the robotic and VATS groups (P=0.047). However, multivariate analysis found that surgical approach was not independently associated with shorter OS and DFS. Conclusions Minimally invasive approaches to lobectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC result in similar long-term survival as thoracotomy. Use of VATS and robotics is associated with shorter length of stay, and the robotic approach resulted in greater lymph node assessment.

The pathological classification of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is evolving. Lung adenocarcinoma is morphologically heterogeneous, with mixtures of acinar, papillary, bronchioloalveolar and solid patterns in more than 80% of cases. In case of synchronous or metachronous multiple NSCLC, the distinction of intrapulmonary metastases from independent primary tumors is of great clinical importance since it influences staging and potentially the therapeutic strategy. Here we took advantage of a cohort of 20 patients with 42 multiple NSCLC tumors (24 potential pair comparisons) that were annotated molecularly using genomic and mutational profiling to evaluate the value of comprehensive histologic assessment in this setting. Using the Martini-Melamed criteria, paired tumors were characterized as multiple primary NSCLCs in 21 cases and as intra-pulmonary metastases in 3 cases. Genomic and mutational data led to a diagnosis of multiple primaries in 14 cases and of metastases in 8 cases; 2 cases could not be assessed. This molecular characterization contradicted the Martini-Melamed diagnosis in 7 (32%) of the 22 assessable comparisons. Adenocarcinoma was found in 32 (76%) of the 42 tumors. After review in a blinded fashion, semiquantitative comprehensive histologic assessement of paired tumors was different in 16 and similar in 8 paired tumors. We found that comparing adenocarcinomas is a complex issue that requires assessment not only of percentages of the histologic subtypes, but also the recording of additional histologic details such as cytologic features, patterns of stroma, necrosis, discrete nodularity versus miliary growth and variants such as clear cell, signet ring, mucinous, and fetal patterns. We also found that paired squamous cell carcinomas could be compared based on histologic subtyping in addition to cytologic and stromal characteristics. Considering histologically different tumors as multiple primaries, and similar tumors as metastases, comprehensive histologic subtyping was consistent with the molecular characterization in 20 (91%) of the 22 pairs comparisons. In summary, based on a well characterized cohort with detailed clinical, pathologic and molecular data, we found comprehensive histologic assessment is a powerful tool that appears to be a promising way to determine whether multiple lung adenocarcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas are metastatic or multiple primaries. This has great clinical implications for staging and therapeutic management of lung cancer patients with multiple tumors. Given its high correlation with molecular characterization of such tumors, it may provide a much cheaper and faster method to address this problem

Purpose: In cases of multiple non-small cell lung cancer, clinicians must decide whether patients have independent tumors or metastases and tailor treatment accordingly. Decisions are currently made using the Martini and Melamed criteria, which are mostly based on tumor location and histologic type. New genomic tools could improve the ability to assess tumor clonality. Experimental Design: We obtained fresh-frozen tumors specimens from patients who underwent surgery on at least two occasions for presumptively independent NSCLC. We did array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), mutational profiling of select genes, and detailed clinicopathologic review. Results: We analyzed a total of 42 tumors from 20 patients (6 patients with synchronous tumors, 14 patients with metachronous tumors, 24 potential tumor pair comparisons); 22 tumor pairs were evaluable by aCGH. Surprisingly, classification based on genomic profiling contradicted the clinicopathologic diagnosis in four (18%) of the comparisons, identifying independent primaries in one case diagnosed as metastasis and metastases in three cases diagnosed as independent primaries. Matching somatic point mutations were observed in these latter three cases. Another four tumor pairings were assigned an "equivocal" result based on aCGH; however, matching somatic point mutations were also found in these tumor pairs. None of the tumor pairs deemed independent primaries by aCGH harbored matching mutations. Conclusion: Genomic analysis can help distinguish clonal tumors from independent primaries. The development of rapid, inexpensive, and reliable molecular tools may allow for refinement of clinicopathologic criteria currently used in this setting. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(16):5184-90)

Introduction For lung squamous cell carcinomas, there are no pathological findings that have been universally accepted as prognostic factors, with the exception of pathological stage. Tumor budding and nuclear grade have been recognized as a poor prognostic factor in other carcinomas. In this study, we investigated whether pathological findings could determine prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinomas. Methods All available tumor slides from patients with surgically resected, solitary lung squamous cell carcinomas (1999–2009) were reviewed (n = 485; stage I/II/III, 281/136/68). Tumors were evaluated for differentiation, subtypes (keratinizing, non-keratinizing, basaloid pattern, papillary growth, and clear cell feature), tumor nest size (tumor budding and single cell invasion), and nuclear grade (nuclear diameter and mitosis). Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method (stratified by pathological stage) and group differences were investigated using the stratified log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results OS was significantly decreased in patients with vs. without single cell invasion (p = 0.002 for the entire tumor and p = 0.001 for tumor edge), with large vs. small nuclei (p = 0.011), and with high vs. low grade tumor budding (p < 0.001 for maximum and p = 0.007 for total). In multivariate analyses, single cell invasion (hazard ratio [HR], 1.47–1.49), nuclear diameter (HR, 1.09–1.33) and tumor budding (HR, 1.04) were independent prognostic factors of OS. However, histologic subtyping including keratinizing, nonkeratinizing, basaloid, and clear cell subtypes did not show prognostic significance. Conclusions Pathological factors can help stratify prognosis in patients with lung squamous cell carcinomas.

Background Minimally invasive lung lobectomy and segmentectomy (video-assisted thoracic surgery; VATS) are assumed to result in better quality of life (QOL) and less postoperative pain, compared with standard, open approaches. To date, few prospective studies have compared the two approaches. We performed a prospective cohort study to compare QOL and pain scores during the first 12 months after VATS or open anatomic resection. Methods Patients were prospectively enrolled from May 2009 to April 2012. Patients with clinical stage I lung cancer who were scheduled to undergo anatomic lung resection were eligible. The brief pain index (BPI) and SF-36 Health Survey were conducted perioperatively and at four time points during the first 12 months after surgery. Intent-to-treat analyses using mixed-effects models were used to longitudinally assess the effect of treatment on QOL components (physical component summary [PCS] and mental component summary [MCS]) and pain. Results In total, 74 patients underwent thoracotomy, and 132 underwent VATS (including 19 patients who were converted to thoracotomy); 40 and 80 patients, respectively, completed the 12-month surveys. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. PCS and BPI scores were similar between the two groups throughout the 12 months of follow-up. MCS, however, was consistently worse in the VATS group. Conclusions Patient-reported PCS and pain scores after VATS and thoracotomy were similar during the first 12 months after surgery.

Molecular profiling readily distinguishes between benign and malignant thyroid tumors with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Elucidated genes may provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer. Gene profiling may significantly enhance the evaluation of thyroid nodules in the future.

Recently we identified a molecular basis for differentiating benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether molecular analysis can be used to differentiate papillary thyroid carcinomas from benign thyroid nodules. Gene expression patterns of 14 papillary thyroid carcinomas and 21 benign tumors were analyzed by oligonucleotide array analysis. The carcinomas included seven classical papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and seven follicular variant of PTC (FVPTC), and the benign tumors included 14 follicular adenomas and seven hyperplastic nodules. A hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to examine the groups for potential differences. The combined PTC and FVPTC groups had a distinct gene expression profile compared with the benign lesions. The sensitivity for a diagnosis of carcinoma was 93%, with a 100% specificity (one FVPTC clustered with the benign nodules). Cancer gene profiles contained both known (Met and galectin-3) and previously unidentified genes. Gene profiling is a reliable means of distinguishing PTC, FVPTC, and benign tumors of the thyroid. These gene profiles may provide insight into the pathogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and may ultimately enhance the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules on a molecular basis.

Introduction Bevacizumab improves survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This phase II clinical trial assessed the effects of the addition of bevacizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable non-squamous NSCLC. Methods Patients with resectable stage IB-IIIA non-squamous NSCLC were treated with bevacizumab followed by imaging 2 weeks later to assess single agent effect. They then received 2 cycles of bevacizumab with 4 cycles of cisplatin and docetaxel followed by surgical resection. Resected patients were eligible for adjuvant bevacizumab. The primary endpoint was the rate of pathological downstaging (decrease from pretreatment clinical stage to post-treatment pathological stage). Secondary endpoints included overall survival, safety and radiologic response. Results Fifty patients were enrolled. Thirty-four (68%) were clinical stage IIIA. All 3 doses of neoadjuvant bevacizumab were delivered to 40/50 patients. Six (12%) patients discontinued due to bevacizumab-related adverse events. The rate of downstaging (38%), response to chemotherapy (45%), and perioperative complications (12%) were comparable to historical data. No partial responses were observed to single-agent bevacizumab but 18% developed new intratumoral cavitation with a trend toward improved pathologic response (57% vs. 21%, p=0.07). A major pathologic response (≥90% treatment effect) was associated with survival at 3 years (100% vs. 49%, p=0.01). No patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLC (0/10) had a pathologic response as compared with 11/31 with wild-type KRAS. Conclusions While preoperative bevacizumab plus chemotherapy was feasible, it did not improve downstaging in unselected patients. New cavitation after single-agent bevacizumab is a potential biomarker. Alternative strategies are needed for KRAS-mutant tumors.