Preoperative Peak Oxygen Uptake in Lung Cancer Subjects With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Respiratory care Vol. 61; no. 8; p. 1059
• Main Authors: Fresard, Isabelle, Licker, Marc, Adler, Dan, Lovis, Alban, Robert, John, Karenovics, Wolfram, Diaper, John, Janssens, Jean-Paul, Triponez, Frederic, Lador, Frederic, Rochat, Thierry, Espinosa, Vicente, Bhatia, Chetna, Kayser, Bengt, Bridevaux, Pierre-Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - physiopathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - therapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant - adverse effects; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance - drug effects; Female; Humans; Inspiratory Capacity - drug effects; Logistic Models; Lung - physiopathology; Lung - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Neoadjuvant Therapy - adverse effects; Neoadjuvant Therapy - methods; Neoplasm Staging; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Preoperative Period; Pulmonary Gas Exchange - drug effects; Treatment Outcome; lung cancer; peak oxygen uptake; post operative complications; lung surgery; training; chemotherapy; cardio-pulmonary exercise tests
• ISSN: 1943-3654
• DOI: 10.4187/respcare.04299

In non-small-cell lung cancer patients, high peak oxygen uptake (peak V̇O2 ) predicts lower rates of postoperative complications and better long-term survival. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may negatively impact peak V̇O2 . Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed in 34 consecutive stage IIIA/IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer subjects scheduled for elective lung surgery. Using multivariate linear regression adjusted for potential confounders, we compared CPET results in subjects receiving or not receiving NAC (NAC+, n = 19; NAC-, n = 15). Adjusted peak V̇O2 was lower in NAC + compared with NAC- subjects (-5.3 mL/min/kg [95% CI -8.3 to -2.2], P = .01). Likewise, oxygen pulse, maximal work load, and ventilatory threshold were also lower in NAC+ subjects, whereas peak heart rate and breathing reserve were similar. NAC+ subjects presented lower values of diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (P = .035) and hemoglobin concentrations (P < .001). DLCO was strongly correlated with peak V̇O2 (r(2) = 0.56). Adjustment for DLCO reduced the effect of NAC on peak V̇O2 without suppressing it. NAC was associated with lower preoperative peak V̇O2 in subjects with non-small-cell lung cancer. This lower aerobic fitness may result from NAC-induced reduction in pulmonary gas exchange or heart toxicity. Since lower fitness is linked to poorer outcome, the decision for NAC may have to be balanced with its possible toxicity.