Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer after induction therapy

Background Although thoracoscopic surgery is widely performed for early-stage lung cancer, only a few small studies have evaluated the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with locally advanced lung cancer who had received preoperative chemotherapy. Methods Among 1655 patients who underwent anatomical lung resection for lung cancer between January 2009 and December 2014 in our institution, we retrospectively examined the short- and long-term outcomes of 110 (6.6%) who had undergone induction therapy. Thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 79 of these patients and thoracotomy in 31. Results In the thoracoscopic group, conversion to a thoracotomy was required in 4 patients. More combined resections were included in the thoracotomy group, and combined resection of large vessels or the carina was carried out only via a thoracotomy. Postoperative complications of grade 3 or above were found in 15 (13.6%) patients, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the 2 groups. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for the patients overall were 58.6% and 50.3%, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in overall outcome between the 2 groups, the patients with postoperative ypN2 status in the thoracoscopic group had a significantly better outcome than those in the thoracotomy group. Conclusion Although video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was not suitable for central advanced lung cancer requiring angioplasty or carinal resection, it seems to be useful for patients with locally advanced lung cancer who had undergone induction therapy, especially patients with peripheral lung cancer and mediastinal lymph node metastasis.