Reduction of resection volume in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant chemoand photodynamic therapy

OBJECTIVE. The research evaluated efficacy of combined treatment of initially nonresectable and inoperable cases of non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment consisted of preoperative endobronchial and intraoperave photodynamic therapies. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The prospective investigation included patients with central non-small cell lung cancer. These cases were initially considered as nonresectable (the trachea was involved in tumor) or inoperable (functional intolerance of pneumoectomy/ bilobectomy). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (2-6 courses) and endobronchial photodynamic therapy (PDT) were conducted for these patients in preoperative period. PDT of resection edge was carried out during the operation and it was straight away after specimen removal and ipsilateral lymphodissection. RESULTS. The research was made on 38 patients. Lung resections underwent 30 (79 %) patients. Surgeries included 20 pneumoectomies and 10 lobectomies. Bronchial resection was performed by crossing an initially affected zone. It was noted that 5-year survival consisted of 68 %. CONCLUSIONS. Photodynamic therapy was important in combination with chemotherapy and surgical treatment of central non-small cell lung cancer. These measures allowed doctors to decrease the resection volume in part of inoperable patients or patients with initially nonresectable tumors.