The 61st Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meeting took place from January 24 to 26, 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. This prestigious event serves as the premier gathering in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, highlighting groundbreaking research, cutting-edge techniques, and technological advancements. Attendees had the chance to participate in discussions, connect with peers, and forge valuable professional connections.
Below are concise summaries of studies presented at the 2025 STS Annual Meeting that center on thoracic oncologic surgery research.
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, the screening rates are significantly lower at 18% compared to the 72% to 76% rates for colorectal and cervical cancer screenings. This disparity in screening rates is troubling as early detection plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for all types of cancer. The existence of this gap can be attributed, in part, to the lower level of community awareness surrounding lung cancer screening compared to other types of cancer screenings.
- These findings underscore the importance of implementing community education initiatives to enhance awareness of lung cancer screening and ultimately increase screening rates. Moving forward, it is imperative to conduct further research on a national level to identify effective strategies for improving awareness and addressing barriers to screening.
- The analysis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the national cancer database includes the option of chemo radiation followed by therapy. However, there have been no trials comparing the management protocols of neoadjuvant surgery or NCIS versus chemo radiation followed by immunotherapy or CRI for surgically resectable clinical stages IIIA to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.
- The analysis demonstrated a significant overall survival benefit for therapy plus surgery compared to chemo radiation followed by monotherapy in patients with surgically resectable locally advanced clinical stage IIIA-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Excluding three non-small cell lung cancer patients, in the absence of randomized control trials, this study provides important evidence for the role of surgery in this patient population.
- Tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) is a significant mechanism of invasion in non-small cell lung cancer, characterized by the spread of microclusters, solidness, or single cancerous cells into air spaces beyond the main tumor edge. This phenomenon has important prognostic and clinical implications, particularly leading to worse overall survival. Despite this, the impact of margin distance on patients with STAS remains unclear.
- In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the association between STAS and overall survival in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer, based on their tumor ratio. Our findings revealed no significant difference in overall survival or recurrence among patients with resected stage one non-small cell lung cancer based on the margin ratio. However, larger studies are necessary to fully understand the effects of margin distance and STAS presence on outcomes, and to establish margin guidelines for resection.
Lung Resections Outcomes: A Thoracic Surgery Database from Colombia
- The concept of registry surgery, as defined by the STS, serves as a valuable tool in enhancing our understanding of surgical outcomes within our country and Latin America. The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of outcomes following lung resections for both benign and malignant pathologies.
- By delving into this data, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the behavior of our population and identify potential risks associated with complications and mortality. This knowledge will enable us to develop targeted protocols for improvement in patient care and outcomes.
- The researchers aim to explore the potential benefits of cryoanalgesia as an intervention to reduce opioid use, lower healthcare costs, and improve outcomes for patients. To achieve this, the researchers conducted a retrospective review spanning a 4 1/2 year period.
- The findings suggest that intraoperative intercostal nerve targeted cryo may hold promise, aligning with existing literature and studies. Moving forward, they plan to investigate additional variables among patients receiving cryo to potentially enhance postoperative recovery and shorten hospital stays.
- Approximately one-third of patients with esophageal cancer present with metastasis to a single distant organ. While there is no consensus on the role of operative management, small-scale studies show improved survival following metastectomy. The objective of this study was to explore the role of metastectomy in single-organ metastatic esophageal cancer using the National Cancer Database.
- The findings suggest that metastectomy may provide an overall survival advantage for select patients with single-organ metastatic esophageal cancer, particularly in cases involving the brain and lungs. However, given the limitations of a retrospective database study, better prognostic indicators must be explored to refine patient selection for metastectomy in esophageal cancer.
Predictors of recurrence after surgery in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer
- Surgery serves as a curative treatment for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Minimally invasive anatomic resections, such as VATS and RATS, are considered the gold standard despite the curative intent, as up to 30% of stage one lung cancer cases may experience reoccurrences. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic factors for early and late recurrence, as well as disease-free survival in patients who underwent radical surgery for stage one NSCLC.
- The findings indicate that approximately 20% of patients experience relapse within five years, with age, tumor size, and disease type serving as predictive factors for recurrence. Survival rates were found to be higher in patients who underwent surgery using the VATS or RATS approach. These results highlight the importance of considering these factors when determining the most effective treatment plan for patients with early-stage NSCLC.
Thank you for joining us for this recap of the 2025 STS Annual Meeting. We recommend visiting this link to explore all the posters presented at the event.
Sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and stay tuned for our conference recaps.
Copyright © 2025 Guideline Central, All Rights Reserved.