Newswise — Endoscopic biopsy of lymph nodes between the two lungs (mediastinum) is a sensitive and accurate technique that can replace mediastinal surgery for staging lung cancer in patients with potentially resectable tumours. Such were the conclusions of a prospective controlled trial conducted under Dr. Moishe Liberman, a researcher at the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) and an Associate Professor at the Université de Montréal. Moreover, the study showed that it is not necessary to perform surgery to confirm negative results obtained through the endoscopic approach during the pre-operative evaluation of patients with this type of cancer. This discovery has many advantages for both the patients and the health-care system.

Endoscopic biopsy of the lymph nodes is a minimally invasive, non-surgical intervention that has recently begun to be used to stage lung cancer. The study conducted by Dr. Liberman’s team involved 166 patients with confirmed or suspected non small cell lung cancer, and was designed to compare the new approach to surgical staging under general anesthesia, as prescribed in current guidelines for this type of cancer. The findings, which were recently published in CHEST Journal, the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians, show that the endoscopy approach is not only sensitive and accurate, but also leads to improved staging compared to surgical staging due to its ability to biopsy lymph nodes and metastases not attainable with surgical techniques.

Research protocol

All patients underwent endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and surgical mediastinal staging (SMS) during a single procedure. Each subject served as his or her own control. The results of the EBUS, EUS and combined EBUS/EUS were compared to SMS (gold standard) results and, in patients with negative lymph node staging, to lymph node sampling at pulmonary resection.

About the study :“Endosonographic Mediastinal Lymph Node Staging of Lung Cancer” was presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 2013, and appeared in CHEST Journal, the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians. http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1840302

About Moishe Liberman, MD, PhD :Dr. Liberman is the Director of the Endoscopic Tracheobronchial and Oesophageal Center (CETOC), Division of Thoracic Surgery, at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). A researcher at the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM), he is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Université de Montréal and holds the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Chair in Thoracic Surgical Oncology. His research is funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Society of University Surgeons, the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec and the Thoracic Surgery Research Foundation of Montreal.

About the CRCHUM :The CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) improves the health of adults through a high-quality academic research continuum which, by improving our understanding of etiological and pathogenic mechanisms, fosters the development, implementation and assessment of new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The CRCHUM provides a training environment to ensure the development of new generations of researchers committed to research excellence.

About the Université de Montréal :Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, the Université de Montréal is one of the top universities in the French-speaking world. Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal today has 16 faculties and together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal, constitutes the largest centre of higher education and research in Québec, the second largest in Canada, and one of the major centres in North America. It brings together 2,500 professors and researchers, accommodates more than 60,000 students, offers some 650 programs at all academic levels, and awards about 3,000 masters and doctorate diplomas each year.

Sources : Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)Université de Montréal

Information : Lucie DufresneCommunication Advisor - Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)Phone: +1 514 890-8000, extension 15380Pager: +1 514 860-7110
[email protected]

Benjamin AugereauPress Attaché - Université de MontréalTéléphone : +1 514 343-6796[email protected]

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CITATIONS

CHEST Journal, Aug-2014