Resection margins, extrapleural nodal status, and cell type determine postoperative long-term survival in trimodality therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma: Results in 183 patients

D. J. Sugarbaker*, R. M. Flores, M. T. Jaklitsch, W. G. Richards, G. M. Strauss, J. M. Corson, Jr DeCamp M.M., S. J. Swanson, R. Bueno, J. M. Lukanich, E. H. Baldini, S. J. Mentzer, L. R. Kaiser, G. A. Patterson, L. P. Faber

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

847 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Our aim was to identify prognostic variables for long-term postoperative survival in trimodality management of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods: From 1980 to 1997, 183 patients underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results: Forty-three women and 140 men (age range 31-76 years) had a median follow-up of 13 months. The perioperative mortality rate was 3.8% (7 deaths) and the morbidity, 50%. Survival in the 176 remaining patients was 38% at 2 years and 15% at 5 years (median 19 months). Univariate analysis identified 3 prognostic variables associated with improved survival: epithelial cell type (52% 2-year survival, 21% 5-year survival, 26-month median survival; P = .0001), negative resection margins (44% at 2 years, 25% at 5 years, median 23 months; P = .02), and extrapleural nodes without metastases (42 % at 2 years, 17% at 5 years, median 21 months; P = .004). Using the Cox proportional hazards, the relative risk of death was calculated for nonepithelial cell type (OR 3.0, CI 2.0-4.5; P < .0001), positive resection margins (OR 1.7, CI 1.2-2.6; P = .0082), and metastatic extrapleural nodes (OR 2.0, CI 1.3-3.2; P = .0026). Thirty-one patients with 3 positive variables had the best survival (68% 2-year survival, 46% 5-year survival, median 51 months; P = .013). A previously published staging system using these variables stratified survival (P < .05). Conclusions: (1) Multimodality therapy including extrapleural pneumonectomy is feasible in selected patients with malignant pleural mesotheliomas, (2) pre-resectional evaluation of extrapleural nodes may select patients for radical therapy, (3) microscopic resection margins affect long-term survival, highlighting the need for further investigation of locoregional control, and (4) patients with epithelial, margin-negative, extrapleural node-negative resection had extended survival.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)54-65
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume117
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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