Prognostic factors after radical local therapy for oligo-recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Oligo-recurrence refers to the presence of a limited number of metachronous recurrences that can be treated with radical local therapy, and most patients have a good prognosis. However, the clinical course after local therapy for oligo-recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) varies, and the prognostic factors are unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the prognostic factors of patients with oligo-recurrence of NSCLC who underwent radical local therapy.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2015, 901 patients who underwent complete resection for NSCLC were included. We defined oligo-recurrence as two or fewer recurrences and retrospectively examined the factors that affected post-recurrence survival in patients who underwent radical local therapy for oligo-recurrence.

Results: Recurrence was confirmed in 267 patients, and among them, 125 experienced oligo-recurrence. Eighty-five patients with oligo-recurrence received local therapy, and their 5-year post-recurrence survival rate was 42.8%. Multivariable analysis of the prognostic factors of these patients revealed that single recurrence (hazard ratio = 2.19, P = 0.005) and systemic therapy (hazard ratio = 1.75, P = 0.043) were significant favorable prognostic factors associated with post-recurrence survival. However, the presence or absence of epidermal growth factor gene mutations, which is generally a prognostic factor for NSCLC recurrence, did not affect the prognosis of these patients.

Conclusions: The number of recurrences and receiving systemic therapy are important prognostic factors for patients with oligo-recurrence who undergo radical local therapy, and these patients have a particularly favorable prognosis.