Journals / Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory / 2026 / Sayı: 1

Retrospective analysis of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases

Küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanseri (KHDAK) olgularında hava yolları ile yayılımın (STAS) retrospektif analizi

Mustafa Emre Duygulu(Erol Olçok Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi)0000-0001-5113-6782
Atila Yıldırım(KARADENİZ TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-6067-5646
Atila Türkyılmaz(KARADENİZ TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-4827-7469
Şafak Ersöz(KARADENİZ TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-5521-7133
Evren Fidan(KARADENİZ TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-6338-5564
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-02-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Although disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were numerically higher in the STAS negative group, the difference was not statistically significant.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between STAS positivity and clinical as well as pathological variables in operated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients followed at our center.
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Conclusion & Impact:Although disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were numerically higher in the STAS negative group, the difference was not statistically significant.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2018 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Akciğer kanseri · hava yolları ile yayılım · genel sağkalım

Abstract

Aim: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Spread through air spaces (STAS) refers to tumor cells found within air spaces surrounding the main tumor mass and has been associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between STAS positivity and clinical as well as pathological variables in operated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients followed at our center. Material and Methods: Patients diagnosed with NSCLC who underwent surgery between January 2018 and May 2022 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between clinical and pathological variables and STAS was investigated. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 85 cases were evaluated within the scope of the study. STAS positivity was observed in 64.7% (n=55) of patients. Low-grade tumors were less common in the STAS positive group (p = 0.006). Regarding lymph node involvement, the frequency of N2 disease was significantly higher in STAS positive patients compared to STAS negatives (p = 0.003). The presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was also significantly higher in the STAS positive group (p = 0.011). Although disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were numerically higher in the STAS negative group, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, a significant association was found between STAS positivity and N2 disease, grade, and LVI in patients diagnosed with NSCLC. Although survival times were found to be lower in STAS positive patients compared to the STAS negative group, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

Özet

Amaç: Akciğer kanseri tüm dünyada kansere bağlı ölüme en sık yol açan kanser türüdür. Hava yolları ile yayılım (STAS) ana tümör kitlesi çevresindeki hava yolu boşluklarında görülen tümör hücrelerini ifade etmektedir ve kötü prognoz ile ilişkisi bilinmektedir. Çalışmamızda merkezimizde takipli opere küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanserli hastalarda STAS pozitifliğinin klinik ve patolojik değişkenler ile olan ilişkisi araştırılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Merkezimizde küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanseri tanısı ile Ocak 2018 ile Mayıs 2022 tarihleri arasında opere olan hastalar retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Klinik ve patolojik değişkenler ile STAS ilişkisi araştırıldı. Sağkalım süreleri Kaplan-Meier yöntemi ile analiz edildi. Bulgular: Toplamda 85 olgu çalışma kapsamında değerlendirildi. STAS pozitiflik oranı %64.7 (n=55) idi. STAS pozitif grupta düşük tümör grade’ i daha az görüldü (p = 0,006). Lenf nodu tutulumuna göre ise STAS pozitif hastalarda N2 hastalık oranının belirgin olarak yüksek olduğu görüldü (p = 0,003). Lenfovasküler invazyon (LVİ) varlığı da STAS pozitif grupta anlamlı derecede yüksek saptandı (p = 0,011). Nümerik olarak STAS negatif grupta hastalıksız sağkalım (DFS) ve genel sağkalım (OS) süreleri yüksek olmasına rağmen bu durum istatistiksel anlamlılığa yansımadı. Sonuçlar: Çalışmamızda, opere küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanseri tanılı hastalarda STAS pozitifliği ile N2 hastalık, grade ve LVİ arasında anlamlı ilişkili saptanmıştır. STAS pozitif hastalarda sağkalım süreleri STAS negatif gruba göre daha düşük saptanmasına rağmen bu durumun istatistiksel anlamlılığa ulaşmadığı görülmüştür.

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Cite This Article

Duygulu, M. E., Yıldırım, A., Türkyılmaz, A., Ersöz, Ş., Fidan, E. (2026). Retrospective analysis of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, Sayı: 1. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1783967

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