Lent score validation on patients with malignant pleural effusion

Abstract

Introduction: Currently there are no reliable predictors of prognosis in malignant pleural effusions (MPE) leading to inability to tailor individual treatment strategies. The 9LENT9 score proposed as a clinical prognostic scoring system for MPE appears to be a potential but has not been validated. Aim: To evaluate the LENT score in a multicentre population from a high quality databases of previous clinical studies in MPE. Methods: Data from MPE patients from the TIME1 & 2 randomised clinical trials were prospectively collected from 2007-2013. Information included type of primary cancer, LDH, performance status and full blood count. Survival data were obtained directly from the trial databases and validated via national registry. Kaplan Meier curves and a Cox regression model were used to assess the LENT risk category. Mortality rates at time points of interest were calculated. Result: s The LENT score was calculated for 75 patients diagnosed with MPE. The median survival (95% CI) for the low (n = 26), medium (n = 40) and high risk (n = 9) groups were: 417 (0.46-833), 182 (96–267) and 160 (0–338) days. In the high risk group, 1 month survival was 89% and 6 month survival was 44%. There was a statistically significant difference in the survival times between all risk groups (log-rank test p Conclusions: The LENT score is a good tool for predicting good survival in patients with MPE for those with a low risk. Medium and high risk groups did not statistically differ in terms of survival. Further research is needed to identify prognostic biomarkers that could be used in addition to the score.