A multicenter prospective observational study of the safety and prognosis of lung cancer patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis following surgery: Niigata Chest Surgery Study Group

Abstract

Methods: Between February 2009 and March 2015, we prospectively analyzed the postoperative and long-term acute exacerbation (AE) and prognosis of lung cancer patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) following surgery in the Niigata Chest Surgery Study Group.

Results: Of the 48 eligible patients, 47 were male and 1 was female. The average age was 70 years old. The incidence of postoperative AE was 6% (3 of 48 patients). One of 3 patients died due to recurrence of AE, and 2 of 3 patients died due to re-recurrence of AE. By univariate analysis, there was no prognostic factor for postoperative AE, and postoperative AE was identified as a significant predictor of long-term AE. Fourteen patients (29%) developed long-term AE, at an average of 16 months, and 8 patients died of long-term AE. The 3-year overall survival rates were 0 and 70.6% for patients with or without postoperative AE, respectively (p < 0.001). The 3-year overall survival rates were 35.7 and 80.3% for patients with or without long-term AE, respectively (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Only the presence of postoperative AE was identified as a predictor of long-term AE. Careful follow-up with awareness of long-term AE is needed.