Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification

Abstract It has not been determined which descriptor spread through air spaces (STAS) should be incorporated into the context of the ninth Tumor, Node and Metastasis (TNM) staging system: the T or the uncertain resection [R(un)] category. A multicenter retrospective cohort of 807 patients with patho...

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Main Authors: Yedong Mi, Donglai Chen, Zhangqiang Chen, Yue Li, Xiaoxiao Dai, Shanshan Shen, Jian Shu, Yongzhong Li, Lijie Tan, Yiming Mao, Qifeng Ding, Yongbing Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:The Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2056-4538.70039
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author Yedong Mi
Donglai Chen
Zhangqiang Chen
Yue Li
Xiaoxiao Dai
Shanshan Shen
Jian Shu
Yongzhong Li
Lijie Tan
Yiming Mao
Qifeng Ding
Yongbing Chen
author_facet Yedong Mi
Donglai Chen
Zhangqiang Chen
Yue Li
Xiaoxiao Dai
Shanshan Shen
Jian Shu
Yongzhong Li
Lijie Tan
Yiming Mao
Qifeng Ding
Yongbing Chen
author_sort Yedong Mi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract It has not been determined which descriptor spread through air spaces (STAS) should be incorporated into the context of the ninth Tumor, Node and Metastasis (TNM) staging system: the T or the uncertain resection [R(un)] category. A multicenter retrospective cohort of 807 patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma was included in this study to assess the feasibility of incorporating STAS into the T descriptor or the R(un) category by analyzing recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the standardized net benefit of the proposed T (nT) and that of the proposed residual tumor classification (nR) versus the current staging systems. Log‐rank tests indicated that patients with pT1/STAS‐positive lung adenocarcinoma had similar RFS and OS to patients with pT2a disease irrespective of R status. Regarding STAS as an indicator for upgrading R0 to R(un), comparable survival was observed between pT1‐2a/STAS‐positive patients undergoing R0 segmentectomy and pT1‐2a patients undergoing R(un) segmentectomy. We further assessed the effects of the combination of STAS with either T or R category on survival in a validation cohort. Subgroup analyses stratified by surgical procedures further identified the consistency of the nT category in discriminating RFS and OS. However, the separation of nR0 and nR(un) disease in pT2a tumors treated by lobectomy or segmentectomy was not sufficiently distinguished. DCA further corroborated a greater predictive capability of nT versus the current T category. In conclusion, STAS might be preferentially considered as an indicator for upgrading pT1 disease into pT2a in the future TNM staging system.
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spelling doaj-art-a94ea698c26149c78b88a0e2dfc8c34e2025-08-20T02:44:55ZengWileyThe Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research2056-45382025-07-01114n/an/a10.1002/2056-4538.70039Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classificationYedong Mi0Donglai Chen1Zhangqiang Chen2Yue Li3Xiaoxiao Dai4Shanshan Shen5Jian Shu6Yongzhong Li7Lijie Tan8Yiming Mao9Qifeng Ding10Yongbing Chen11Department of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Pathology The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Pathology The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, The First People's Hospital of Taicang Taicang PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery Suzhou Kowloon Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou PR ChinaAbstract It has not been determined which descriptor spread through air spaces (STAS) should be incorporated into the context of the ninth Tumor, Node and Metastasis (TNM) staging system: the T or the uncertain resection [R(un)] category. A multicenter retrospective cohort of 807 patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma was included in this study to assess the feasibility of incorporating STAS into the T descriptor or the R(un) category by analyzing recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the standardized net benefit of the proposed T (nT) and that of the proposed residual tumor classification (nR) versus the current staging systems. Log‐rank tests indicated that patients with pT1/STAS‐positive lung adenocarcinoma had similar RFS and OS to patients with pT2a disease irrespective of R status. Regarding STAS as an indicator for upgrading R0 to R(un), comparable survival was observed between pT1‐2a/STAS‐positive patients undergoing R0 segmentectomy and pT1‐2a patients undergoing R(un) segmentectomy. We further assessed the effects of the combination of STAS with either T or R category on survival in a validation cohort. Subgroup analyses stratified by surgical procedures further identified the consistency of the nT category in discriminating RFS and OS. However, the separation of nR0 and nR(un) disease in pT2a tumors treated by lobectomy or segmentectomy was not sufficiently distinguished. DCA further corroborated a greater predictive capability of nT versus the current T category. In conclusion, STAS might be preferentially considered as an indicator for upgrading pT1 disease into pT2a in the future TNM staging system.https://doi.org/10.1002/2056-4538.70039STASTNM staging systemR classificationsurgical procedure
spellingShingle Yedong Mi
Donglai Chen
Zhangqiang Chen
Yue Li
Xiaoxiao Dai
Shanshan Shen
Jian Shu
Yongzhong Li
Lijie Tan
Yiming Mao
Qifeng Ding
Yongbing Chen
Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
The Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research
STAS
TNM staging system
R classification
surgical procedure
title Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
title_full Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
title_fullStr Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
title_full_unstemmed Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
title_short Which descriptor should spread through air spaces (STAS) be incorporated into? T descriptor versus residual tumor classification
title_sort which descriptor should spread through air spaces stas be incorporated into t descriptor versus residual tumor classification
topic STAS
TNM staging system
R classification
surgical procedure
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2056-4538.70039
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