Background  

Intergroup 0139 Trial suggests an increase in mortality after pneumonectomy in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy and radiation. We evaluate our outcomes with pneumonectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation.

Methods  

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation consisted of cisplatin 50 mg/m² on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 and etoposide 50 mg/m² on days 1–5 and 29–33 given concurrently with 5,040 cGy radiation. From a prospective database, results after pneumonectomy were compared between patients receiving and not receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation during the same time period.

Results  

Over 7 years, 50 pneumonectomies were performed for non-small-cell carcinoma; 18 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (group A) and 32 did not (group B). Comparing group A with group B, there was no significant difference in patient demographics, blood loss, transfusion requirements or pneumonectomy side. Group A had more patients with stage III disease [17/18 (94%) versus 15/32 (47%), P = 0.001] and also more often had vascularized flap for bronchial stump coverage [17/18 (94%) versus 4/32 (13%), P < 0.001]. There was no significant difference in operative morbidity or mortality. Mortality for group A was 0/18 and for group B was 2/32 (6.3%) (P = 0.530). Group A patients with IIIA(N2) disease (n = 13) had median recurrence-free survival of 12.4 months, median overall survival of 25 months, and 3-year overall survival of 22.2%.

Conclusions  

Using a multidisciplinary team approach at a tertiary care center, pneumonectomy can be performed successfully after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation for advanced-stage lung cancer. Vascularized flap for bronchial stump coverage may be important in this regard.