Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Versus Thoracotomy Following Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy in Resectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Among Chinese Populations: A Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

MicroAbstractThis study spanned six Chinese medical centers and included 143 resectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with induction immunochemotherapy with a median follow-up of 29.5 months, demonstrating that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) led to decreased surgical-related pain, earlier chest tube removal, fewer postoperative complications, and comparable two-year survival outcomes to thoracotomy. Even when converted, VATS achieved perioperative outcomes equivalent to thoracotomy. Therefore, VATS could be considered feasible and oncologically effective for resectable stage III NSCLC after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment but may pose greater technical challenges for surgery. This study aims to assess the feasibility and oncological effectiveness of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for resectable stage III NSCLC after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.MethodsInitial stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC patients with neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy undergoing either VATS or open lobectomy at six medical centers during 2019-2023 were retrospectively identified. Perioperative outcomes and two-year survival were analyzed. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was employed to balance patient baseline characteristics.ResultsAmong the total 143 patients, PSM yielded 62 cases each for VATS and OPEN groups. Induction-related adverse events were comparable between the two groups. VATS showed a 14.5% conversion rate. Notably, VATS decreased numeric rating scales for postoperative pain, shortened chest tube duration (5[4-7] vs. 6[5-8] days, P=0.021), reduced postoperative comorbidities (21.0% vs. 37.1%, P=0.048), and dissected less N1 lymph nodes (5[4-6] vs. 7[5-9], P=0.005) compared with thoracotomy. Even when converted, VATS achieves perioperative outcomes equivalent to thoracotomy. Additionally, over a median follow-up of 29.5 months, VATS and thoracotomy demonstrated comparable two-year recurrence-free survival (77.20% vs. 73.73%, P=0.640), overall survival (87.22% vs. 88.00%, P=0.738), cumulative incidences of cancer-related death, and recurrence patterns. Subsequent subgroup comparisons and multivariate Cox analysis likewise revealed no statistical difference between VATS and thoracotomy.ConclusionVATS is a viable and effective option for resectable stage III NSCLC patients following neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, leading to decreased surgical-related pain, earlier chest tube removal, reduced postoperative complications, and similar survival outcomes compared to thoracotomy.