The Effect of STAS Positivity in Lung Cancer

Abstract Aim of study: The spread through air spaces (STAS) phenomenon, which describes the presence of tumor cells in the air spaces of lung cancer, has been associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. We performed retrospective analyses to examine the presence of STAS and to evaluate its clinical results and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 149 surgically resected lung cancer cases were analyzed retrospectively. Detailed analyses were performed on demographic- radiological-clinical-histological features. Results: The mean age of the patients was 63 (IQR = 11; range, 22–81), among whom 31 were female and 118 were male. The incidence of STAS was not different between the histological groups (p = 0.427). There was no difference between SUVmax value in STAS-positive and negative patients (p = 0.970). The recurrence rate, survival, and median tumor size were not different from each other in the STAS-positive and STAS-negative groups (p = 1,000, p = 0.086, p = 0.292, respectively). Conclusion: STAS is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. Therefore, it may be possible to provide more personalized information by using clinicopathological markers that will facilitate preoperative prediction of STAS presence.