Objective To study the reliability and feasibility of video-assisted thorascopic lymphadenectomy for complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods From May 2007 to October 2008,31 patients with NSCLC underwent video-assisted thorascopic radical lobectomy combined with systemic lymphadenectomy in our hospital.The patients were divided into video-assisted thorascopic surgery(VATS) group(n=14) and video-assisted mini-thoracotomy(VAMT) group(n=17).The numbers of removed and metastatic lymph nodes were counted.The results and the follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results No patient dead or showed serious perioperative complications in both the groups.No significant differences were found between the VATS and VAMT groups in the operation time [(193?92) min vs(188?101) min,t=0.143,P=0.887],blood loss [(592?123) ml vs(648?120) ml,t=-1.297,P=0.211],number of removed lymph nodes [(14.6?7.5) vs(15.2?4.5),t=0.262,P=0.795],or 1-year rate of recurrence or metastasis [21.4%(3/14) vs 13.3%(2/15),P=0.651].Conclusion For patients with NSCLC,no significant difference exists between the outcomes of video-assisted thorascopic surgery and video-assisted mini-thoracotomy.

BACKGROUNDProto-oncogene Pokemon is the special transcription inhibitor of ARF,which can regulate cell growth and differentiation by ARF-P53 path.It may be the important monitoring target of tumor because of being upstream region of many tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes.The aim of this study is to explore the clinical significance of Pokemon gene in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of Pokemon protein in 92 cases of NSCLC and 20 cases of paracancerous lung tissues.Correlation between abnormal expression of Pokemon with pathologic characteristics and prognosis of NSCLC was analyzed.

RESULTSPokemon was not expressed in paracancerous lung tissues and was found in 66 of 92(71.7%) cases of lung cancer tissues.Expression of Pokemon was closely related to TNM stages(P=0.011).Survival rate of patients with negative Pokemon expression was significantly higher than that of those with positive Pokemon expression(P=0.0015).Pokemon expression was demonstrated as independent prognostic factor of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONSPokemon is expressed in NSCLC and it may be identified as a new diagnostic marker.High expression of Pokemon may indicate poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC.