The Advantage of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing over qPCR in Testing for Druggable Variants in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

The emergence of targeted therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, has increased the need for robust companion diagnostic tests. Nowadays, detection of actionable variants in exons 18-21 of the gene by qPCR and direct DNA sequencing is often replaced by next-generation sequencing (NGS). In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of targeted NGS for druggable variants testing in clinical NSCLC material previously analyzed by the IVD-certified qPCR test with respect to DNA reference material.

Clinically important pulmonary vascular variations: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Pulmonary vascular variations are a major factor in thoracic surgeries. Minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) used in non-small lung cancer treatment, have a limited field of view and no haptic feedback. Additionally, new studies suggest that segmentectomies are beneficial for patients.

The effectiveness of surgical treatment of lung cancer in Polish academic and nonacademic centers.

Background: The theoretical advantage of academic hospitals over nonacademic are: more qualified surgeons, adequate diagnostic facilities and infrastructure, including intensive care units. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of surgical lung cancer treatment in academic (ACA) and nonacademic (non-ACA) centers.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data from 31,777 patients surgically-treated for lung cancer during the period from 2007 to 2020 in 9 ACA and 21 non-ACA centers.

The absence of lymph nodes removed (pNx status) impacts survival in patients with lung cancer treated surgically.

Objectives: We aimed to study the clinical significance of the lack of lymph node assessment (pNx status) and its impact on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the Polish Lung Cancer Study Group database. pNx status was defined as 0 lymph nodes removed.

The clinico-pathological characteristics of surgically treated young women with NSCLC.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed in young patients is rare. Younger patients with lung cancer are mostly female and have a more advanced stage at initial diagnosis. To our knowledge, no studies have compared single-surgical treatment in different age groups among women.

Sex differences in clinico-pathologic characteristics and long-term survival among 17,192 surgically treated NSCLC patients: Nationwide population-based propensity score-matching study.

Introduction: More information is needed on gender differences in lung cancer surgery. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study on thoracic treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients between 2007 and 2020 in Poland. The aim was to characterize sex differences in survival after complete surgical resection and to compare postoperative complications between Polish men and women.

Effect of 3A lymph node resection on survival in patients with right-sided NSCLC: a retrospective, multicentre, propensity-score matching study.

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical significance and impact on survival of prevascular mediastinal lymph nodes (3A) in patients with right-sided lung cancer.

Methods: Prospective data of 6,348 patients, who underwent lung resection from 2005 to 2015, were retrospectively analysed. There were 221 patients who underwent 3A dissection (3ALN+), while 6,127 did not (3ALN-).

FGFR1-4 RNA-Based Gene Alteration and Expression Analysis in Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

While fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are involved in several biological pathways and FGFR inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer (Sq-NSCLC), FGFR aberrations are not well characterized in Sq-NSCLC. We comprehensively evaluated FGFR expression, fusions, and variants in 40 fresh-frozen primary Sq-NSCLC (stage IA3−IV) samples and tumor-adjacent normal tissues using real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Protein expression of FGFR1−3 and amplification of FGFR1 were also analyzed.

Ninety-Day Mortality of Thoracoscopic vs Open Lobectomy: A Large Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Studies have demonstrated a lower incidence of complications after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy compared with thoracotomy, but the data on in-hospital and 90-day mortality are inconclusive. This study analyzed whether surgical approach, VATS or thoracotomy, was related to early mortality of lobectomy in lung cancer and determined the differences between in-hospital and 90-day mortality.

Methods: Data of all patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy between January 1, 2007, and July 30, 2018, were retrieved from Polish National Lung Cancer Registry.

The usefulness of progression-free survival in surgical treatment of lung metastases.

Introduction: The history of the treatment of neoplastic metastases and its evolution over more than one hundred years has raised many doubts as to the purposefulness of such management. The main problem that made it difficult to draw certain statistically confirmed conclusions was the inability to conduct prospective studies. Over the years, based on the experience gained and the multicenter analyses carried out, it was determined which elements of the surgical treatment affect the prognosis.

Factors influencing the effect of surgical treatment in secondary proliferative disease with lung involvement.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of neoplastic lung metastases is a big therapeutic problem, at the stage of qualifying for the procedure, in the surgical technique itself, and in the tactics of managing subsequent disease relapses. The most doubtful aspect is determining which factors influence the prolongation of survival in patients with such a diagnosis.

Aim: To determine which factors influence the effectiveness of surgical treatment of neoplastic metastases to the lungs.

The impact of left lower paratracheal (4L) lymph node dissection on survival in patients with surgically treated left-sided NSCLC.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of left lower paratracheal nodes (#4L) and their impact on survival in patients with left-sided lung cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospective data. The study included 5369 patients who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2015.

Tuberculosis diagnosed by thoracic surgeons.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is frequently omitted in the diagnostic workup and may be identified accidentally following thoracic surgeries, mostly those targeting lung cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of patients who underwent thoracic surgery that resulted in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and to review lesions initially found on chest imaging in the context of the potential presence of tuberculosis.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed medical records of all patients hospitalized at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland, between the years 2014 and 2018 (n = 57) in whom tuberculosis was diagnosed.

Video-assisted versus open thoracotomy lobectomy: comparison on lymphadenectomy and survival in early stage of lung cancer.

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is increasingly used in the surgical treatment of early lung cancer, but the oncological benefits are still controversial. We aimed to compare video-assisted lobectomy and open thoracotomy lobectomy in terms of lymphadenectomy and long-term survival depending on the location of lobectomy.

Methods: A retrospective, multicenter study was based on the Polish Lung Cancer Study Group and included patients with stage I lung cancer who were surgically treated between 2007 and 2015.

The influence of the number of lymph nodes removed on the accuracy of a newly proposed N descriptor classification in patients with surgically-treated lung cancer.

Introduction: The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has proposed a new classification of N descriptor based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) stations, including skip metastasis. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of removed LNs on the adequacy of this new classification.

Materials And Methods: The material was collected retrospectively based on the database of the Polish Lung Cancer Group, including information on 8016 patients with non-small cell lung cancer operated in 23 thoracic surgery centers in Poland.

Alternative methods of lymph node staging in lung cancer: a narrative review.

The nodal status indicator in non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most crucial prognostic factors available. However, there are still many arguments among scientists regarding whether the currently used nodal status descriptor should be changed in the forthcoming editions of the Tumor Node Metastasis classification or whether it is precise enough and should be maintained as is. We reviewed studies concerning nodal factor classifications to evaluate their accuracy in non-small cell lung cancer patients and to address the previously mentioned challenge.

Surgical treatment of metastatic diseases to the lung.

Introduction: The problem of treating secondary cancer is very controversial. Huge progress in its treatment began in the 1970s with the introduction of chemotherapy. In the surgical aspect Pastorino's work published in 1997 was a milestone.

Protein-altering germline mutations implicate novel genes related to lung cancer development.

Few germline mutations are known to affect lung cancer risk. We performed analyses of rare variants from 39,146 individuals of European ancestry and investigated gene expression levels in 7,773 samples. We find a large-effect association with an ATM L2307F (rs56009889) mutation in adenocarcinoma for discovery (adjusted Odds Ratio = 8.

Pulmonary veins variations with potential impact in thoracic surgery: a computed-tomography-based atlas.

Background: Pulmonary veins (PVs) are important during segmentectomy. Many case reports prove that they may be the source of bleeding during surgery, especially when anatomical variants are present. We decided to describe venous variations and prepare a computed tomography based atlas of our observations.

The 6-min walk test in the functional evaluation of patients with lung cancer qualified for lobectomy.

Objectives: The American College of Chest Physicians guidelines recommend low-technology exercise tests in the functional evaluation of patients with lung cancer considered for resectional surgery. However, the 6-min walk test (6MWT) is not included, because the data on its clinical value are inconsistent. Our goal was to evaluate the 6MWT in assessing the risk of cardiopulmonary complications in candidates for lung resection.

Primary mediastinal neoplasms: a report of 1,005 cases from a single institution.

Background: This study was an epidemiological analysis of all primary mediastinal neoplasms (PMNs) diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 at the National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Poland.

Methods: All patients with any mediastinal abnormality were included in the analysis. The patients' age and gender were obtained from the institutional database.

Primary pulmonary sarcoma - treatment outcomes depending on the different types of radical operation.

Introduction: Primary pulmonary sarcomas (PPS) are rare types of non-epithelial malignant tumors of the lungs (0.013-1.1% of all malignant lung tumors).