Prognostic Score of Long-Term Survival After Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Multicenter Analysis

Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2015 July 9 [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Leuzzi G, Rea F, Spaggiari L, Marulli G, Sperduti I, Alessandrini G, Casiraghi M, Bovolato P, Pariscenti G, Alloisio M, Infante M, Pagan V, Fontana P, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Ratto GB, Leoncini G, Sacco R, Mucilli F, Facciolo F.

Abstract

Background

Despite ongoing efforts to improve therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, few patients undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy experience long-term survival (LTS). This study aims to explore predictors of LTS after extrapleural pneumonectomy and to define a prognostic score.

Methods

From January 2000 to December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed clinicopathologic and oncological factors in a multicenter cohort of 468 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy. LTS was defined as survival longer than 3 years. Associations were evaluated using χ2, Student’s t, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Logistic regression, Cox regression hazard model, and bootstrap analysis were applied to identify outcome predictors. Survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to estimate optimal cutoff and area under the curve for accuracy of the model.

Results

Overall, 107 patients (22.9%) survived at least 3 years. Median overall, cancer-specific, and disease-free survival times were 60 (95% confidence interval [CI], 51 to 69), 63 (95% CI, 54 to 72), and 49 months (95% CI, 39 to 58), respectively. At multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.82), epithelioid histology (odds ratio, 7.07; 95% CI, 1.56 to 31.93), no history of asbestos exposure (odds ratio, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.13 to 8.66), and the ratio between metastatic and resected lymph nodes less than 22% (odds ratio, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.68 to 10.12) were independent predictors of LTS. According to these factors, we created a scoring system for LTS that allowed us to correctly predict overall, cancer-specific, and disease-free survival in the total sample, obtaining two different groups with favorable or poor prognosis (area under the curve, 0.74; standard error, 0.04; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our prognostic model facilitates the prediction of LTS after surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma and can help to stratify the outcome and, eventually, tailor postoperative treatment.