Two STS 2024 sessions featured late-breaking research covering new findings on a research study focused on resectable early stage non-small-cell lung cancer and a study that used data to define characteristics associated with long-term survival following esophagectomy for cancer.
Impact of Surgical Factors on Event-Free Survival in the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 KEYNOTE-671 Trial of Perioperative Pembrolizumab For Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
In a talk given by presenting author Jonathan David Spicer, MD, PhD, of McGill University, he discussed new findings from the KEYNOTE-671 research study, focused on resectable early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which have unveiled a significant breakthrough in the treatment landscape.
The study, titled "Impact of Surgical-Related Data on Event-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-671," demonstrated that neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy did not delay surgery. "Results showed that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy with adjuvant pembrolizumab provided meaningful improvement in EFS," said Dr. Spicer. "This was shown when compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone for resectable early stage NSCLC – regardless of clinical nodal status, baseline disease stage, or type of surgery."
Longitudinal Follow-up of Elderly Patients After Esophageal Cancer Resection in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database
In this study, Justin Blasberg, MD, of Yale School of Medicine, used the STS General Thoracic Surgery Database linked to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data to define characteristics associated with long-term survival following esophagectomy for cancer. The analysis included 4,798 patients from 207 STS sites who underwent esophagectomy between 2012-2019. "The researchers found that Medicare patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer exhibit identifiable predictors for long-term survival and readmission," noted Dr. Blasberg. "The absence of pathologic T and N downstaging increases the risk for long-term mortality and readmission."
These findings suggest opportunities to enhance clinical practice and improve outcomes for Medicare patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer.