Implication of total tumor size on the prognosis of patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinomas appearing as part-solid nodules: Does only the solid portion size matter?

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the effect of clinico-radiologic variables, including total tumor (T_total) size and clinical T category, on the prognosis of patients with stage IA (T1N0M0) lung adenocarcinomas appearing as part-solid nodules (PSNs).

Methods: This institutional review board-approved retrospective study included 506 patients (male:female = 200:306; median age, 62 years) with PSNs of the adenocarcinoma spectrum in clinical stage IA who underwent standard lobectomy at a single tertiary medical center. Prognostic stratification of the patients in terms of disease-free survival was analyzed with variables including age, sex, T_total size, solid portion size, clinical T category, and tumor location using univariate and subsequent multivariate Cox regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed to reveal the effect of the T_total size at each clinical T category.

Results: Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that T_total size*cT1b [interaction term; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.091; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.015, 1.173; p = 0.019] and cT1c (HR = 68.436; 95% CI: 2.797, 1674.415; p = 0.010) were independent risk factors for the tumor recurrence. When patients with cT1b were dichotomized based on a T_total size cutoff of 3.0 cm, PSNs with T_total > 3.0 cm showed a significantly worse outcome (HR = 3.796; 95% CI: 1.006, 14.317; p = 0.049). No significant difference was observed in the probability of recurrence between cT1b with T_total > 3.0 cm and cT1c (p = 0.915).

Conclusions: T_total size is a significant prognostic factor in adenocarcinoma patients in cT1b without lymph node or distant metastasis. PSNs in cT1b with T_total > 3.0 cm have a comparable risk of lung cancer recurrence to those in cT1c.

Key points: • Current T descriptor was a powerful prognostic factor in stage IA adenocarcinomas appearing as part-solid nodules. • Total tumor size further stratified risk of recurrence of adenocarcinomas in cT1b. • Upstaging of tumors in cT1b with total tumor size > 3.0 cm may be more appropriate.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Disease-free survival; Lung neoplasms; Neoplasm staging; Prognosis.