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Comparative Study
. 2017 Jun;153(6):1592-1597.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.12.045. Epub 2017 Feb 7.

Biopsy first: Lessons learned from Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 140503

Leslie J Kohman  1 , Lin Gu  2 , Nasser Altorki  3 , Ernest Scalzetti  4 , Linda J Veit  5 , Jason M Wallen  5 , Xiaofei Wang  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Biopsy first: Lessons learned from Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 140503

Leslie J Kohman et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Cancer and Leukemia Group B 140503 is an ongoing, multicenter randomized trial assessing whether sublobar resection is equivalent to lobectomy for the treatment of stage I A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤2 cm in diameter. The objective of this report is to determine the reasons precluding intraoperative randomization.

Methods: From June 15, 2007, to March 22, 2013, 637 patients were preregistered to the trial. Three hundred eighty-nine were randomized successfully (61%), and 248 patients were not randomized (39%). We analyzed the reasons for nonrandomization among a subset of the nonrandomized patients (208) for whom additional data were available.

Results: Of these 208 patients, undiagnosed benign nodules (n =104, 16% of all registered patients) and understaging of NSCLC (n =45, 7% of all registered patients) were the dominant reasons precluding randomization. Granulomas represent one-quarter of the benign nodules. The understaged patients had unsuspected nodal metastases (n =28) or other more advanced NSCLC. The rate of randomization was significantly greater in those patients who had a preoperative biopsy (P <.001).

Conclusions: In a carefully monitored cohort of patients with suspected small NSCLC ≤2 cm, a substantial number are misdiagnosed (benign nodules) or understaged. These patients may not have benefited from a thoracic surgical procedure. Preoperative biopsy significantly increased the rate of correct diagnosis. Preoperative biopsy of small suspected NSCLC will reduce the number of nontherapeutic or unnecessary thoracic procedures. Accuracy in preoperative diagnosis is increasingly important as more such small nodules are discovered through lung cancer screening.

Keywords: biopsy; clinical trial; lung cancer; lung nodule; non–small cell lung cancer; sub-lobar resection; surgery; understaging.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Rate of randomization over time
Central Picture
Central Picture
Diagnoses in suspected cT1A NSCLC
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Comment in

  • Is tissue the issue?
    Louie BE. Louie BE. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Jun;153(6):1598-1599. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.03.099. Epub 2017 Apr 2. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017. PMID: 28526109 No abstract available.

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