No compensatory lung growth after resection in a one-year follow-up cohort of patients with lung cancer

Background: As compensatory lung growth after lung resection has been studied in animals of various ages and in one case report in a young adult, it has not been studied in a cohort of adults operated for lung cancer. Methods: A prospective study including patients with lung cancer was conducted over two years. Parenchymal mass was calculated using computed tomography before (M0) and at 3 and 12 months (M3 and M12) after surgery. Respiratory function was estimated by plethysmography and CO/NO lung transfer (DLCO and DLNO). Pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) and membrane conductance for CO (DmCO) were calculated. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein- 3 (IGFBP-3) plasma concentrations were measured simultaneously. Results: Forty-nine patients underwent a pneumonectomy (N=12) or a lobectomy (N=37) thirty two completed the protocol. Among all patients, from M3 to M12 the masses of the operated lungs (239 +/- 58 to 238 +/- 72 g in the lobectomy group) and of the non-operated lungs (393 +/- 84 to 377 +/- 68 g) did not change. Adjusted by the alveolar volume (VA), DLNO/VA decreased transiently by 7% at M3, returning towards the M0 value at M12. Both Vc and DmCO increased slightly between M3 and M12. IGF-1 and IGFBP- 3 concentrations did not change at M3, IGF-1 decreased significantly from M3 to M12. Conclusions: Compensatory lung growth did not occur over one year after lung surgery. The lung function data could suggest a slight recruitment or distension of capillaries owing to the likely hemodynamic alterations. An angiogenesis process is unlikely.