Pathological factors
The pStage was IA in 225 patients, IB in 101, IIA in 48, IIB in 43, and IIIA in 46. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 350 patients, squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 91 patients, and other types of lung cancer (adenosquamous cell carcinoma, pleomorphic carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma) were diagnosed in 22 patients. The grade of differentiation was grade 1 (G1) in 173 patients, grade 2 (G2) in 203, grade 3 (G3) in 75, and grade 4 (G4) in 12. Ly was present in 192 patients, and V was present in 225 patients.
Correlation coefficients
The correlation coefficients are shown in Table 3. Positive correlations were observed between wound length and postCRP level (correlation coefficient; r = 0.39, p < 0.01), between wound length and operation time (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), and between operation time and postCRP level (r = 0.54, p < 0.03).
Table 3
Variable | Correlation coefficient | P value |
Wound length vs Postoperative CRP | 0.399 | < 0.01 |
Operation time vs Postoperative CRP | 0.544 | < 0.01 |
Operation time vs Wound length | 0.432 | < 0.01 |
CRP; C-reactive protein |
Univariate and multivariate analyses
The univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with RFS are summarized in Table 4. Sex (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–2.99; p < 0.01), smoking history (HR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.38–3.28; p < 0.01), CEA (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.36–2.89; p < 0.01), operative approach (HR, 0.58; 95%CI, 0.33–0.82; p < 0.01), wound length (HR, 2.07; 95%CI, 1.37–3.08; p < 0.01), operation time (HR, 1.62; 95%CI, 1.09–2.44; p = 0.01), operative procedure (HR, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.01–3.55, p = 0.04), differentiation (HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.38–3.24; p < 0.01), Ly (HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.96–4.35; p < 0.01), V (HR, 3.26; 95% CI, 2.16–5.05; p < 0.01), pStage (HR, 4.59; 95% CI, 3.13–6.78; p < 0.01), preCRP level (HR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.91–4.17; p < 0.01), and postCRP level (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.24–2.72, p < 0.01) were identified as significant prognostic factors in the univariate analysis. CEA (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.05–2.38; p = 0.02), V (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.15–3.38; p = 0.01), pStage (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.60–4.18; p < 0.01), and preCRP level (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.22-3.00; p < 0.01) were identified as significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.
Table 4
Cox proportional hazard analyses for factors affecting relapse free survival
| Univariate analysis | | Multivariate analysis |
Variables | | HR (95%CI) | p-value | | HR (95%CI) | p-value |
Gender | female | 1 | | | | |
| male | 1.92 (1.27–2.99) | < 0.01 | | | |
Age | < 70y | 1 | | | | |
| ≥ 70y | 1.11 (0.75–1.63) | 0.57 | | | |
Charlson comorbidity index | 0–2 | 1 | | | | |
| 3–4 | 1.29 (0.41–7.85) | 0.70 | | | |
Smoking status | never | 1 | | | | |
| Former / current | 2.10 (1.38–3.28) | < 0.01 | | | |
CEA | ≤ 5 ng/ml | 1 | | | 1 | |
| > 5 ng/ml | 1.98 (1.36–2.89) | < 0.01 | | 1.58 (1.05–2.38) | 0.02 |
Operative approach | Thoracotomy | 1 | | | | |
| VATS | 0.57 (0.33–0.82) | < 0.01 | | | |
Wound length | ≤ 10 cm | 1 | | | | |
| > 10 cm | 2.07 (1.37–3.08) | < 0.01 | | | |
Operation time | ≤ 248 min | 1 | | | | |
| > 248 min | 1.62 (1.09–2.44) | < 0.01 | | | |
Operative procedure | Seg / Lob | 1 | | | | |
| Bilob / Pneumo | 1.99 (1.01–3.55) | 0.04 | | | |
pStage | I | 1 | | | 1 | |
| II - IIIA | 4.59 (3.13–6.78) | < 0.01 | | 2.57 (1.60–4.18) | < 0.01 |
Histology | Ad | 1 | | | | |
| Non-Ad | 1.32 (0.86–1.97) | 0.19 | | | |
Differentiation | G1 | 1 | | | | |
| G2 – G4 | 2.09 (1.38–3.24) | < 0.01 | | | |
Ly | absent | 1 | | | | |
| present | 4.38 (2.25–9.01) | < 0.01 | | | |
V | absent | 1 | | | 1 | |
| present | 3.26 (2.16–5.05) | < 0.01 | | 1.95 (1.15–3.38) | 0.01 |
preCRP | ≤ 0.14 | 1 | | | 1 | |
| > 0.14 | 2.80 (1.91–4.17) | < 0.01 | | 1.91 (1.22–3.00) | < 0.01 |
postCRP | ≤ 14.49 | 1 | | | | |
| > 14.49 | 1.83 (1.24–2.72) | < 0.01 | | | |
Clavien-Dindo grade | 0 - I | 1 | | | | |
| II - IIIb | 1.36 (0.86–2.09) | 0.17 | | | |
CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen, VATS; video-assisted thoracic surgery, Seg; segmentectomy, Lob; lobectomy, Bilob; bilobectomy, Pneumo; pneumonectomy, pStage; pathological stage, |
Ly; lymphatic invasion, V; vascular invasion, preCRP; preoperative C-reactive protein, postCRP; postoperative C-reactive protein. |
The results of the univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with OS are summarized in Table 5. Sex (HR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.89–6.31; p < 0.01), smoking history (HR, 4.12; 95%CI, 2.31–8.03; p < 0.01), CEA (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.20–2.95; p < 0.01), operative approach (HR, 0.45; 95%CI, 0.28–0.75; p < 0.01), wound length (HR, 2.41; 95%CI, 1.51–3.79; p < 0.01), operation time (HR, 1.84; 95%CI, 1.09–3.23; p = 0.02), operative procedure (HR, 2.98; 95%CI, 1.48–5.41, p < 0.01), differentiation (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.19–3.17; p < 0.01), Ly (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.24–3.11; p < 0.01), V (HR, 3.36; 95% CI, 2.06–5.69; p < 0.01), pStage (HR, 4.83; 95% CI, 3.05–7.82; p < 0.01), preCRP level (HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.80–4.61; p < 0.01), and postCRP level (HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.35–3.69, p < 0.01) were identified as significant prognostic factors in the univariate analysis. Smoking history (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.07–5.56; p = 0.03), V (HR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.49–5.38; p < 0.01), and pStage (HR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.77–6.08; p < 0.01) were identified as significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.
Table 5
Cox proportional hazard analyses for factors affecting overall survival
| Univariate analysis | | Multivariate analysis |
Variables | | HR (95%CI) | p-value | | HR (95%CI) | p-value |
Gender | female | 1 | | | | |
| male | 3.32 (1.89–6.31) | < 0.01 | | | |
Age | < 70y | 1 | | | | |
| ≥ 70y | 1.08 (0.67–1.70) | 0.74 | | | |
Charlson comorbidity index | 0–2 | 1 | | | | |
| 3–4 | 1.37 (0.22–4.38) | 0.67 | | | |
Smoking status | never | 1 | | | 1 | |
| Former /current | 4.12 (2.31–8.03) | < 0.01 | | 2.36 (1.07–5.56) | 0.03 |
CEA | ≤ 5 ng/ml | 1 | | | | |
| > 5 ng/ml | 1.88 (1.20–2.95) | < 0.01 | | | |
Operative approach | Thoracotomy | 1 | | | | |
| VATS | 0.45 (0.28–0.75) | < 0.01 | | | |
Wound length | ≤ 10 cm | 1 | | | | |
| > 10 cm | 2.41 (1.51–3.79) | < 0.01 | | | |
Operation time | ≤ 248 min | 1 | | | | |
| > 248 min | 1.84 (1.09–3.23) | 0.02 | | | |
Operative procedure | Seg / Lob | 1 | | | | |
| Bilob / Pneumo | 2.98 (1.48–5.41) | < 0.01 | | | |
pStage | I | 1 | | | 1 | |
| II - IIIA | 4.83 (3.05–7.82) | < 0.01 | | 3.26 (1.77–6.08) | < 0.01 |
Histology | Ad | 1 | | | | |
| Non-Ad | 1.60 (0.98–2.55) | 0.05 | | | |
Differentiation | G1 | 1 | | | | |
| G2 – G4 | 1.92 (1.19–3.17) | < 0.01 | | | |
Ly | absent | 1 | | | | |
| present | 1.95 (1.24–3.11) | < 0.01 | | | |
V | absent | 1 | | | 1 | |
| present | 3.36 (2.06–5.69) | < 0.01 | | 2.80 (1.49–5.38) | < 0.01 |
preCRP | ≤ 0.14 | 1 | | | | |
| > 0.14 | 2.85 (1.80–4.61) | < 0.01 | | | |
postCRP | ≤ 14.49 | 1 | | | | |
| > 14.49 | 2.20 (1.35–3.69) | < 0.01 | | | |
Clavien-Dindo grade | 0 - I | 1 | | | | |
| II - IIIb | 1.45 (0.83–2.43) | 0.17 | | | |
CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen, VATS; video-assisted thoracic surgery, Seg; segmentectomy, Lob; lobectomy, Bilob; bilobectomy, Pneumo; pneumonectomy, pStage; pathological stage, |
Ly; lymphatic invasion, V; vascular invasion, preCRP; preoperative C-reactive protein, postCRP; postoperative C-reactive protein. |