BACKGROUNDTo explore the clinicopathological changes of non-small cell lung cancer tissues after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with MVP (MMC+VDS+DDP) regimen and its concordance with clinical evaluation, and to study the clinical value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 84 patients with NSCLC were randomized into combinated therapy group (42 cases) and surgical group (42 cases). The combinated therapy group were given MVP regimen for 2 cycles before operation and 2-4 cycles after operation, however, the surgical group only received surgical treatment. The efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy were determined by pathologic examination under light microscope and electron microscope and clinical evaluation.

RESULTSCombinated therapy group showed various degrees of degeneration and necrosis of tumor cells, which was not found in surgical group. The overall response rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 59.5% (25/42) by both pathological and clinical evaluation. The coincidence ratio of the two evaluation methods was 71.4% (Kappa value=0.407,P < 0.01). Between the two groups, there was a significant difference in total survival rate (P=0.047). And further analysis showed that survival rate was remarkably different in patients with stage III between the two groups (P=0.037), but not in those with stage I and II (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDegeneration and necrosis with fibrosis are the main pathological phenotypes of the primary lesion after induction chemotherapy, which can be showed by clinical evaluation to chemotherapy efficacy. The preoperative and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may be benefical to patients with stage-III NSCLC.