Impact of stereotactic body radiation therapy volume on surgical patient selection, short-term survival, and long-term survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is increasingly used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to analyze relationships between facility SBRT utilization and surgical patient selection and survival after surgery.

METHODS

Data on patients with TI/T2N0M0 lesions and treatment facility characteristics were abstracted from the National Cancer Database, 2008 to 2017. Facilities were stratified using an SBRT/surgery ratio previously associated with short-term survival benefit for patients treated surgically, and by a previously identified surgical volume threshold. Multiple regression analyses, Cox proportional-hazard regressions, and Kaplan-Meier log rank test were employed.

RESULTS

In total, 182,610 patients were included. Proportion of high SBRT:surgery ratio (≥17%) facilities increased from 118 (11.5%) to 558 (48.4%) over the study period. Patients undergoing surgery at high-SBRT facilities had comparable comorbidity scores and tumor sizes to those at low-SBRT facilities, and nonclinically significant differences in age, race, and insurance status. Among low-volume surgical facilities, treatment at a high SBRT-using facility was associated with decreased 30-day mortality (1.8% vs 1.4%, P < .001) and 90-day mortality (3.3% vs 2.6%, P < .001). At high-volume surgical facilities, no difference was observed. At 5 years, a survival advantage was identified for patients undergoing resection at facilities with high surgical volumes (hazard ratio, 0.91; confidence interval, 0.90-0.93 P < .001) but not at high SBRT-utilizing facilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in short-term survival following resection at facilities with high-SBRT utilization may be attributable to low surgical volume facilities. Patients treated at high volume surgical facilities do not demonstrate differences in short-term or long-term survival based on facility SBRT utilization.