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Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-signaling in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is associated with cancer aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Small GTPase RAB11A regulates the recycling of membrane proteins such as FGFR. This study evaluated the potential of RAB11A as a new therapeutic target for LSCC through its regulation of FGFR-signaling.Immunohistochemical analysis of 84 LSCC samples was performed to determine the correlation between RAB11A expression, clinicopathologic features, and prognosis. Alterations in FGFR-signaling were assessed in RAB11A-suppressed and RAB11A-overexpressed LSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo.The study identified RAB11A as a strong predictor of poor prognosis in the LSCC cohort. Cell proliferation and invasion were promoted and inhibited respectively in RAB11A-overexpressed and RAB11A -suppressed LSCC cells. In RAB11A-overexpressed and RAB11A-suppressed LSCC cells, FGFR-signaling was respectively up- and downregulated. The viability of the cells treated with nintedanib and lenvatinib was greater in RAB11A-overexpressing cells than in control cells. The in vivo tumor growth and micro-vessel density of RAB11A-overexpressing tumors were significantly higher than in the control cells.As a potentially valuable prognostic marker, RAB11A is a promising therapeutic target for LSCC. Evaluation of RAB11A may be useful for identification of LSCC in patients whose cancer is refractory to FGFR inhibitors.

Lung segmentectomy is an option for the treatment of noninvasive or minimally invasive lung cancer. For tumors located in the left upper division (LUD), LUD trisegmentectomy (SWe compared the surgical outcomes and frequency of postoperative complications of LUD trisegmentectomy (simple group) with those of complex segmentectomy (other than LUD trisegmentectomy; complex group) for pulmonary lesions using three-dimensional computed tomography between 2010 and 2021.In total, 118 patients were included: 65 in the simple group and 53 in the complex group (SComplex segmentectomy can be performed safely under the guidance of three-dimensional CT. Complex segmentectomy itself is not a risk factor for postoperative complications when the intersegmental planes are sufficiently recognized and accurately cut.

Background Resection of lung cancer with chest wall involvement is an invasive procedure. Case presentation We report a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with chest wall involvement that was resected through video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy and combined en bloc resection of the chest wall (2nd to 4th ribs). Surgical stress was decreased by reducing the extent of lung parenchymal resection and applying a video-assisted technique with an additional posterior paravertebral incision. Conclusion A thoracoscopic surgical approach involving incisions in areas requiring resection of the proximal, lateral, and posterior sides of the involved ribs can be applied to tumors invading the chest wall.

RAS/BRAF mutations of colorectal cancer (CRC) play a crucial role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression and need to be considered for the therapeutic strategy choice. We used next-generation-sequencing (NGS) technology to assess RAS/BRAF mutation differences between primary CRC and corresponding pulmonary metastases (PMs). We examined the mutation statuses of the KRAS 12/13/61/146, NRAS 12/13/61/146, and BRAF 600 codons in genomic DNA from fresh-frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues derived from 34 primary lesions and 52 corresponding PMs from 36 patients with CRC. We found RAS mutations in 76% (26/34) of primary CRC lesions and in 86% (31/36) of PMs. While 27% (7/26) of the primary CRC RAS mutations were heterogeneous, all the RAS mutations in PMs were homogeneous. Of the mutations in PMs, 71% (22/31) were KRAS G>A transitions, of which 82% (18/22) were KRAS G12D or G13D. The RAS mutation discordance between primary tumors and PMs was 12.1% (4/33). RAS mutations with the same genotyping were detected in all synchronous and metachronous PMs from 9 patients. We found no BRAF mutations in either primary or pulmonary tissues. Our NGS analysis suggests that RAS mutations of PM of patients with CRC are more common than initially thought. The presence of KRAS mutations in CRC specimens, especially G12D or G13D mutations, seems to promote PM formation.

The technique of medial-basal segment (S7)-sparing basal segmentectomy has not previously been reported. Herein we report the technical details of thoracoscopic anatomical basal segmentectomy preserving S7 in patients with B7ab branching pattern.

Background The efficacy of resection of pancreatic cancer metastases has not been established. We here report two patients with long-term survival after resection of lung and liver metastases. Case presentation The first patient underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer. One year later, she underwent partial hepatectomy for a single liver metastasis. She subsequently underwent pulmonary resections 7, 7.5, 9, and 10 years later for pulmonary metastases from pancreatic cancer. Thus, this patient underwent five surgeries for metastases, one for a liver metastasis and four for lung metastases. All of the tumors were pathologically diagnosed as metastatic pancreatic cancer. She is currently alive without new recurrence 10 years after the initial diagnosis. The second patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. Four years later, she underwent a thoracoscopic partial resection for lung metastasis. The tumor was similar to the pancreatic cancer on pathological examination. She is currently alive without new recurrences 6 years after the initial diagnosis. Conclusion Long-term survival can be achieved in some patients with pancreatic cancer by resection of metachronous liver or lung metastases.

Reports of right middle lobe segmentectomy are rare. We report here that anatomical right middle lobe segmentectomy is a relatively simple surgical procedure and can achieve good expansion of the remnant lung for patients with a relatively large right middle lobe.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has gradually been implemented in thoracic surgery, and the VATS approach has now been extended to technically challenging procedures, such as segmentectomy. The definition of VATS segmentectomy is changing over time, and the repertoire of segmentectomy is getting wider with increasing reports on atypical segmentectomy. VATS segmentectomy bears surgical, oncological, and technical advantages; however, there are still areas of controversy, particularly regarding oncological outcomes. The indication of VATS segmentectomy is diverse and is used for treating lung cancer, metastatic lung tumors, or a variety of nonmalignant diseases. It is particularly valuable for the lung-sparing resection of deeply located small nodules or repeated surgery for multiple lung lesions. VATS segmentectomy requires a thorough analysis of segmental anatomy and a tailored preoperative planning with the assessment of surgical margins. Technical challenges include intraoperative navigation, methods to identify and dissect the intersegmental plane, and the prevention of air leakage. This review will discuss the present state of VATS segmentectomy, with a focus on past studies, current indications and techniques, and future view.

Known as a microtubule-destabilizing protein, STMN1 (gene symbol: STMN1) regulates the dynamics of microtubules, cell cycle progress, and chemo-resistance against taxane agents. It is highly expressed in various human cancers and involved in cancer progression as well as poor prognosis. Expression of STMN1 was examined by immunohistochemistry using FFPE tissue sections from 186 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Analysis of STMN1 suppression was performed for STMN1 small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected LSCC cell lines to determine the change in proliferation, invasive and apoptosis abilities, and paclitaxel sensitivity. The cytoplasmic STMN1 expression in LSCC was higher than in normal tissues. The high expression was significantly associated with vascular invasion (P = 0.0477) and poor prognosis. In addition, the proliferating and invasive abilities were decreased, and the apoptosis ability and paclitaxel sensitivity were increased in STMN1-suppressed LSCC cells compared with control cells. The results suggest that STMN1 is a prognostic factor that also is associated with caner progression and chemo-resistance. Therefore, STMN1 could be a predictor for poor prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in LSCC.

There are only a few detailed reports concerning the prognosticators following surgical resection of pulmonary metastases (PMs) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We investigated the prognosis of patients with RCC PMs undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy and identified prognostic factors in a multi-institutional retrospective study. We retrospectively evaluated 84 patients who underwent resection of PMs from RCC between 1993 and 2014. We assessed the clinicopathological characteristics, focusing on the histological findings of PMs. We classified the histology into three types: pure clear cell carcinoma (N = 68), clear cell carcinoma combined with other histology type (N = 8), and non-clear cell carcinoma (N = 8). We examined the relationship between these histological types and the prognosis of patients with PMs from RCC. Complete resection was achieved in 78 patients (93%). The 5-year overall survival rate after metastasectomy was 59.7%. In multivariate analysis, three factors were found to be independent favorable prognostic factors of overall survival after lung metastasectomy [tumor size

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for recurrence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with lymph node metastases after surgical resection.We reviewed 66 consecutive patients with surgically resected NSCLC who had pathologically proven positive lymph nodes (pN1 or pN2). All patients underwent a preoperative 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) evaluation. We analyzed the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and recurrence-free proportion (RFP) according to the clinicopathological factors.A total of 27 patients were pathologically N1 and 39 were N2. The 5-year overall survival rate and the RFS rate were 47.2 and 27.7 %, respectively. The cut-off values for the SUVmax of the tumor and the lymph node ratio (LNR) were determined to be 6.5 and 0.12, respectively, using a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed three significant independent factors for RFS: namely, the SUVmax of the tumor, the LNR, and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. Only the SUVmax was an independent significant predictor of the RFP.Both the SUVmax and the LNR can serve as prognostic factors for patients with pN + NSCLC. Our study suggests that the LNR could be a stronger prognostic factor than the N classification of the TNM system and the SUVmax may predict recurrence in node-positive NSCLC patients.

Objectives General thoracic surgeons must be familiar with anatomical variations in the pulmonary bronchi and vessels. We analyzed variations in the bronchovascular pattern of the right upper lung lobe using three-dimensional CT angiography and bronchography and then compared our results with those of previous reports. Methods We reviewed anatomical variations in the right upper pulmonary bronchus and vessels of 263 patients using 3DCT angiography and bronchography images obtained using a 64-channel multidetector CT and workstation running volume-rendering reconstruction software. Results Variations in the pulmonary vein were classified into four types: the “anterior-plus-central vein type” was the most common, noted in 219 cases (83.2 %). The “anterior vein type” was evident in 23 cases (8.8 %), a significantly lower incidence than in previous reports (p

A pulmonary segmentectomy requires identification of the segmental planes, making it technically more difficult than a lobectomy. Therefore, we present a selective segmental-inflation technique using a butterfly needle. This paper discusses anatomical segmenectomy with special reference to identifying the intersegmental plane. Methods First, the lung is deflated and the pulmonary vessels to the involved segment are divided. The segmental bronchus is divided using a stapling device or ligation. Then, using a butterfly needle, oxygen (approximately 1 L/min.) is instilled into the targeted bronchus to inflate the involved segment, and the involved segment is severed and removed using electrocautery or a stapling device. The raw surface is covered with an absorbable sealing material to prevent air leaks. Results Fifty-three (M:F = 33:33) patients underwent anatomical segmentectomy with the selective segmental-inflation technique using a butterfly needle. Their median age was 64.9 years. The diseases were malignant lung disease in 52 patients and benign lung disease in 14. The surgical procedure was segmentectomy only in 60 and segmentectomy combined with lobectomy in six. The median operating time was 170 min; the blood loss was 82 g; and the postoperative stay was 8 days. The duration of chest tube drainage was 3 days. No major complication occurred. Conclusions In summary, anatomical segmentectomy was performed successfully with the selective segmental-inflation technique using a butterfly needle. Advantages: Surgeons can control every manipulation. No special device is needed; a butterfly needle is sufficient. It is useful regardless of the situation of proximal bronchus. Ultraselective air instillation into the subsegmental bronchus depends on the needle direction. Disadvantages: The proximal site of the targeted bronchus must be identified. Care is needed to avoid systemic air embolism.