Clinicopathological Risk Factors Research Articles

Establishment of a logistic regression model nomogram for clinicopathological characteristics and risk factors with axillary lymph node metastasis in T1 locally advanced breast cancer: a retrospective study.

Although the research reports on locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) are increasing year by year, there are few reports on T1 LABC axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM). By establishing a prediction model for T1 LABC ALNM, this study provides a reference value for the probability of ALNM of related patients, which helps clinicians to develop a more effective and individualized treatment plan for LABC. Cases with pathologically confirmed T1 breast cancer (BC) between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were identified. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between LABC lymph node metastasis and every factor, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to identify any influencing factors. A nomogram was drawn after incorporating meaningful factors identified in multivariate logistic regression into the model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) and its 95% CI were calculated. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed. The results were validated in the validation group. A total of 200,933 female T1 BC patients were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of T1 BC showed that progesterone receptor (PR)-negative, race, age, lobular carcinoma, micropapillary ductal carcinoma, axillary tail tumor, poor differentiation, and larger tumor diameter increased the probability of ALNM in T1 LABC. A predictive nomogram was established using the above predictors, the AUC of the modeling group was 0.739 (95% CI: 0.732-0.747), and when the AUC cut-off value was 0.026, the specificity and sensitivity of the model were 65.78% and 69.99%, respectively. Validation of the model showed that the AUC of the validation group (n=60,280) was 0.741. When all the risk factors were met, the predicted probability of N2-N3 was 50.40%. In this study, it was found that PR-negative, Black race, age, lobular carcinoma, micropapillary ductal carcinoma, axillary tail tumor, poor differentiation, and tumor diameter increased the probability of large lymph node metastasis in T1 LABC small tumors.

MDB-64. NOVEL TRANSCRIPTS ASSOCIATE WITH SURVIVAL IN CHILDHOOD MEDULLOBLASTOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma is the commonest malignant brain tumour in childhood, with progression-free survival (PFS) <65% in high-risk disease. Novel biomarkers, independent of current clinicopathological risk factors, could enhance understanding of biology and support improved treatment approaches. METHODS Using high-depth RNA sequencing of 217 patients, we identified novel multi-exonic medulloblastoma transcripts using a de novo analysis. We evaluated these alongside known/curated gene transcripts, including correlative survival analysis for 170 patients (aged 3-16 years and treated with curative intent). Multivariable survival analyses of the overall cohort (n=145) and a MBGroup3/MBGroup4 (Group3/Group4)-specific subcohort (n=95) was undertaken to identify prognostic transcripts, adjusting for current risk criteria and correcting for multiple testing. RESULTS From 3,150 novel transcripts identified, expression of 217 varied significantly and were further assessed. One was prognostic for PFS independent of subgroup (located on chromosome 20) while three were independently prognostic within Group3/Group4 (located on chromosome 1, 4 and 21 respectively). Transcript presence was validated by qPCR. From >60,000 known transcripts identified, 9693 were assessed. Four were independently prognostic for PFS in the whole-cohort (MRPS12, SLC25A34, MLYCD and ROGD1). In Group3/Group4, the top upregulated canonical pathways associated with PFS were: polo-like kinase, cyclin/cell cycle regulation, BRCA1/ DNA damage response, and glutamate receptor signalling. MELK and NQO2 were among the top 10 transcripts most highly associated with Group3/Group4 PFS. The prognostic significance of six transcripts (MRPS12, MLYCD, MELK, CDK4, NQO2, ROGD1) was validated in an independent Group3/Group4 dataset (n=470) while ROGD1 was prognostic independent of subgroup. Immunohistochemical validation showed low CDK4 expression, low MLYCD expression and high CHK1 expression were independent prognosticators in Group3/Group4. CONCLUSION De novo transcripts represent a significant component of the medulloblastoma transcriptome, providing prognostic information, and enhancing biological understanding of Group3/Group4 disease. CHK1 and MELK represent promising validated candidates for further evaluation as prognostic biomarkers in Group3/Group4 medulloblastoma.

Development of a prediction model for lung metastasis by using postoperative circulating tumor DNA binding clinicopathological risk factors in patients with colorectal cancer.

e15035 Background: Lung metastasis is common in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, diagnosing lung metastasis in CRC is challenging due to slow-growing pulmonary lesions. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing provides a direct indication of the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) which contributing to cancer recurrence. Yet, there are no reports on the potential indications of ctDNA for the site of metastasis. The objective of this study is to develop a predictive model for lung metastasis in CRC patients who have received adjuvant therapy by integrating ctDNA with clinicopathological factors. Methods: Two independent cohorts' series were evaluated including 299 patients from China as training cohort and 134 patients from Spain as validation cohort from 2012-2020. We specifically focused on the detection of ctDNA in these patients. We employed LASSO regression for optimal feature selection and built a predictive model by multivariable logistic regression. Results: In training cohort, 59/299(19.7%) patients have detectable ctDNA. In validation cohort, 24/134 (18.6%) patients have detectable ctDNA. Patients who tested ctDNA-positive had a significantly higher incidence of lung metastasis (33.9% vs. 11.2%, P<0.001) compared to ctDNA-negative patients. A predictive model for lung metastasis was developed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The model incorporated factors such as ctDNA status, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, presence of cancerous nodes, and the mutation status of Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Alpha (PIK3CA) in plasma. The lung metastasis prediction nomogram demonstrated a favorable ability to distinguish with a concordance index of 0.775 (95% CI: 0.706-0.775) during internal validation. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test, with p-value of 0.967, indicated that prediction nomogram model had a good fit. In addition, the prediction model of validation cohort demonstrated a discriminative performance with a concordance index of 0.724(95% CI: 0.698-0.724). Furthermore, the DCA (Decision Curve Analysis) and CIC (Clinical Impact Curve) in both cohorts indicated that the lung metastasis nomogram exhibited a favorable clinical net benefit. Finally, through multi-model comparison, it was found that the predictive performance of the model, which includes ctDNA and blood PIK3CA mutation status, was significantly superior to all clinical prediction models. Conclusions: A lung metastasis prediction nomogram was developed by integrating postoperative ctDNA and clinicopathological risk factors. The purpose of this nomogram is to assist clinicians in predicting the probability of lung metastasis in patients who have undergone surgery for CRC, with the aim to facilitate prompt intervention.

Prospective validation of ctHPVDNA for detection of minimal residual disease and prediction of recurrence in patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer treated with surgery.

6010 Background: Prediction of minimal residual disease (MRD) following surgery, and thus the need for adjuvant therapy, is currently based on clinicopathologic risk factors which have poor individual prognostic capacity. We previously reported that MRD detection by ctHPVDNA droplet digital (dd)PCR as early as post-operative day (POD) 1 is predictive of recurrence in stage I-II HPV+HNSCC patients. Here, we applied a significantly more sensitive custom whole genome hybrid-capture-based next generation sequencing assay, termed HPV-DeepSeek, to validate the prognostic capacity of ctHPVDNA detection and explore the optimal timing of MRD testing in HPV+HNSCC patients. We tested the primary hypothesis that patients with MRD detection within 6 weeks of surgery would have inferior PFS at 2 years and the secondary hypothesis that patients with ctHPVDNA positivity detected at any point following treatment completion would have inferior PFS at 2 years. Methods: 98 patients with HPV+HNSCC were prospectively enrolled with a mean follow-up of 712 days. All patients underwent surgery as primary treatment and clinicopathologic adjusted adjuvant treatment. 10ml blood samples were collected before surgery, in the post-operative period (POD 1-42), and serially in follow-up. MRD was defined as a lack of ctHPVDNA clearance during the 6 weeks following surgery. Cell free DNA was extracted from plasma and run on HPV-DeepSeek, and on existing ddPCR assays for head to head comparisons. Results: 96/98 (98%) of patients had detectable ctHPVDNA pre-treatment. 30/98 patients (31%) were MRD positive. Patients who were MRD positive had significantly worse 2 years PFS compared to MRD negative patients (78% vs 98%, P=0.0009). Predictive performance improved by limiting time points to POD 7-42 (2 year PFS 60% vs 97%, P<0.0001) as significantly fewer patients were MRD positive >1 week after surgery, suggesting the use of an ultra-sensitive assay such as HPV-DeepSeek requires adjustment of MRD time points. Patients with detectable ctHPVDNA following completion of all treatment had significantly worse 2-year PFS compared to patients without detectable ctHPVDNA (0% vs 97%, P<0.0001). 7/98 patients had cancer recurrence during follow-up that was detected by ctHPVDNA with a mean lead time of 207 days (35-518) to clinical diagnosis. Conclusions: ctHPVDNA detection by HPV-DeepSeek is a highly specific biomarker of MRD in HPV+HNSCC, accurately predicts disease progression and detects recurrence earlier than standard care clinical.

The 15-gene expression profile test is independent from PRAME and 7-gene next-generation sequencing: Results from 3,267 clinically tested uveal melanomas.

9598 Background: The 15-gene expression profile (15-GEP) test is the gold standard in the US for metastatic risk prediction in uveal melanoma (UM). Studies have shown that the 15-GEP is superior to and independent of other clinicopathologic and molecular risk factors, including PRAME expression status and BAP1 mutation status. Supplemental tests for PRAME and the 7-gene NGS panel ( BAP1, SF3B1, EIF1AX, GNA11, GNAQ, CYSLTR2, PLCB4)are validated and can now be run clinically from the same biopsy specimen. However, the discordance between 15-GEP, PRAME and NGS in clinical specimens is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether PRAME status or DNA mutation status could be used to predict the 15-GEP result. Methods: Data from fine-needle aspiration biopsy or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded UM specimens submitted for routine comprehensive clinical testing with all three commercial tests (15-GEP, PRAME, and NGS) between February 2018 and December 2023 were collected through an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Results: Overall, 3267 tumors with comprehensive molecular testing were analyzed. 15-GEP testing yielded 65.9% (n=2152/3267) Class 1 and 34.1% (n=1115) Class 2 tumors. While Class 2 tumors were more than twice as likely to be PRAME(+) vs Class 1, 54.3% (606/1115) of Class 2 cases were PRAME(–), and 20.9% (450/2152) of Class 1 cases were PRAME(+) resulting in a PRAME/15-GEP discordance rate of 32.3% (10-56/3267). Mutations in genes associated with increasing metastatic risk ( EIF1AX, SF3B1, and BAP1, respectively) were identified in 58.7% (1918/3267) of cases. Most EIF1AX mutations (569/623, 91.3%) occurred in Class 1 tumors that were PRAME(–), while most SF3B1mutations were found in Class 1, PRAME(+) tumors (244/404, 60.4%). Most BAP1 mutations (863/976, 88.4%) occurred in Class 2 (high risk) tumors, of which 53.9% (465/863) were PRAME(–). Importantly, 56.0% (1205/2152) of Class 1 tumors did not harbor detectable EIF1AX or SF3B1 mutations, and 22.6% (252/1115) of Class 2 tumors did not harbor a detectable BAP1 mutation, yielding an NGS/15-GEP discordance rate of 44.6% (1457/3267). Conclusions: The validated PRAME and NGS tests described here, which can be performed from the same initial biopsy sample taken for 15-GEP testing, provide results that are not systematically associated with 15-GEP class. Given that the 15-GEP has been shown to be superior to both PRAME and NGS in predicting metastatic outcomes, it is recommended that these supplemental tests only be considered in the context of a 15-GEP test result to prevent potentially over or under identifying high-risk biology. An ongoing prospective study with long term outcomes for over 1700 UM patients led by the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (COOG2) will provide insight into how best to effectively integrate these supplementary biomarkers with the 15-GEP class result.

The association of hormone receptor expression level and clinical efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitor in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

e13069 Background: In patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+ HER2- MBC), the correlation between the level of expression of HR and the clinical efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors remains undefined. Methods: We identified consecutive patients with HR+ HER2- MBC starting a CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib, ribociclib or abemaciclib) plus either an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant between Jan 2018 - Oct 2023 from an institutional cancer registry. Expression level of HR was stratified as high (H) (Allred score 7-8), moderate (M) (Allred score 5-6) or low (L) (Allred score 3-4) for both estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). Patients were evaluated from start of treatment to December 2023, last visit or death, whichever came earlier. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) were endpoints. We evaluated the association of HR expression levels with mPFS and mOS using log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression modelling. Results: We examined data from 436 women with HR+ HER2- MBC. Median age at treatment was 60.5 yr. Majority of patients received the treatment in the first-line setting (72.5%), with palbociclib (54.1%), ribociclib (31.9%) and abemaciclib (14.0%) as the CDK4/6 inhibitor. In the population that received first-line treatment, ER expression levels were H (83.5%), M (11.4%) and L (5.1%) respectively. ER expression levels were strongly associated with mPFS and mOS. For ER H, M and L expressions, mPFS were 29.4m, 9.2m and 2.9m ( p<0.001); mOS were 52.1m, 40.6m and 11.6m ( p<0.001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, ER expression levels remain strongly predictive for both mPFS and mOS after adjustment for clinicopathological risk factors (ER L vs H, mPFS HR 10.6, p<0.001; mOS HR 4.66, p<0.001; ER M vs H, mPFS HR 4.90, p<0.001; mOS HR 2.06, p=0.05). Findings were similar for the second line and beyond population. In the ER-high expression cohort, the PR expression levels also correlate strongly with treatment efficacy and survival, with mPFS of 40.8m, 24.5m, 24.0m, 14.1m ( p<0.001) and mOS of NR, 53.3m, 48.1m, 26.9m ( p<0.001) respectively for PR H, M, L and zero expressions. Conclusions: In this real-world cohort of patients with HR+ HER2- MBC, we observed that the semi-quantitative HR expression level subgrouping is a strong predictor for the efficacy of treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors. In contrast to patients with high HR expression levels, the small population with ER-low expression derived very limited benefits from the standard endocrine therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Our findings provided a practical tool to guide the selection of the appropriate systemic therapy for individual patients.

Prognostic value analysis and survival model construction of different treatment methods for advanced intestinal type gastric adenocarcinoma

BackgroundIntestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma, representing 95 % of gastric malignancies, originates from the malignant transformation of gastric gland cells. Despite its prevalence, existing methods for prognosis evaluation of this cancer subtype are inadequate. This study aims to enhance patient-specific prognosis evaluation by analyzing the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic risk factors of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma patients using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MethodsWe extracted clinical data for patients diagnosed with intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2015 from the SEER database, selecting 257 cases based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Independent risk factors for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were identified using a Cox regression model. A nomogram model for predicting OS or CSS was developed from the Cox risk regression analysis and validated through the consistency index (C-index), ROC curve, and calibration curve. ResultsAge, primary tumor resection, chemotherapy, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS (P < 0.05). The nomogram model, constructed from these indicators, demonstrated superior predictive consistency for OS and CSS compared to the AJCC-TNM staging system. ROC curve analysis confirmed the model's higher accuracy, and calibration curve analysis indicated good agreement between the nomogram's predictions and actual observed outcomes. ConclusionThe nomogram model derived from SEER database analyses accurately predicts OS and CSS for patients with intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. This model promises to facilitate more tailored treatments in clinical practice.

Risk factors for acute kidney injury and kidney relapse in patients with lupus podocytopathy.

Patients with lupus podocytopathy show a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and relapse, but the risk factors and mechanisms were unclear. This study analysed the clinicopathological features and risk factors for AKI and relapse in lupus podocytopathy patients. The cohort of lupus podocytopathy was generated by screening the biopsies of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) from 2002 to 2022 and was divided into the mild glomerular lesion (MGL) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) groups based on glomerular morphological characteristics. The acute (ATI) and chronic (CTI) tubulointerstitial lesions were semi-quantitatively scored. Logistic and Cox regressions were employed to identify the risk factors for AKI and relapse, respectively. Among 6052 LN cases, 98 (1.6%) were diagnosed as lupus podocytopathy, with 71 in the MGL group and 27 in the FSGS group. All patients presented with nephrotic syndrome and 33 (34.7%) of them had AKI. Seventy-seven (78.6%) patients achieved complete renal response (CRR) within 12weeks of induction treatment, in which there was no difference in the CRR rate between glucocorticoid monotherapy and combination therapy with glucocorticoids plus immunosuppressants. Compared with the MGL group, patients in the FSGS group had significantly higher incidences of hypertension and haematuria; in addition, they had higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000, ATI and CTI scores but a significantly lower CRR rate. Urinary protein ≥7.0g/24h and serum C3 ≤0.750g/l were independent risk factors for AKI. During a median follow-up of 78months, 57 cases (60.0%) had relapse and none reached the kidney endpoint. Failure to achieve CRR within 12weeks, maintenance with glucocorticoid monotherapy and AKI at onset were independent risk factors for kidney relapse. In this study, histological subtypes of lupus podocytopathy were found to be associated with clinical features and treatment response. In addition, several risk factors associated with AKI occurrence and kidney relapse were identified.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Risk Factors of Young-Onset Gastric Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The characteristics of gastric carcinoma in young individuals differ from that in older individuals. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the clinicopathological features and risk factors associated with young-onset (younger than 50 years) gastric carcinoma. We searched for studies published between January 1, 1990, and September 1, 2023, on patients with young-onset gastric carcinoma in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and MEDLINE to explore clinicopathological characteristics among this specific patient group. Extracted information included the proportion of patients with symptoms or family history of gastric cancer, tumor location, and histological features such as Lauren or World Health Organization histological classification and degree of differentiation. Additional analyses were conducted on risk factors such as positive family history, Helicobacter pylori infection, or high-risk nutritional or behavioral factors. The estimates were derived using random or fixed-effect models and included subgroup analyses based on different sex and age groups. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023466131). We identified 5,696 records, 1,292 were included in the quality assessment stage. Finally, 84 studies from 18 countries or regions including 89,447 patients with young-onset gastric carcinoma were included. Young-onset gastric carcinoma has slight female predominance (53.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.6-55.7%), with most having symptoms (87.0%, 95% CI: 82.4%-91.7%). Family history was reported in 12.1% (95% CI: 9.5%-14.7%). H. pylori infection was detected in 60.0% of cases (95% CI: 47.1%-72.8%). Most of these carcinomas were in the non-cardia region (89.6%, 95% CI: 82.4%-96.8%), exhibiting Lauren diffuse-type histology (71.1%, 95% CI: 66.8%-75.3%) and poor/undifferentiated features (81.9%, 95% CI%: 79.7-84.2%). A positive family history of gastric cancer was the most important risk factor associated with the development of gastric carcinoma in young individuals (pooled odds ratios 4.0, 95% CI: 2.8-5.2), followed by H. pylori infection (odds ratio 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4-3.2) and dietary and other lifestyle risk factors. Young-onset gastric carcinoma exhibits specific clinicopathological characteristics, with positive family history being the most important risk factor. Most of the patients were symptomatic at diagnosis. These findings could help to inform future strategies for the early detection of gastric carcinoma among young individuals.

Abstract PS01-07: Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Recurrence Risk in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Treated with Breast-Conserving Surgery

Abstract Background: Among women with invasive breast cancer, clinical presentation, tumor biology and survival vary by race and ethnicity. However, the impact of race and ethnicity on clinical presentation and recurrence risk in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has not been well studied. We sought to compare rates of recurrence in women with DCIS across racial and ethnic groups and identify factors associated with recurrence. Methods: Patients with DCIS treated with BCS from 1978 to 2016 at a single institution were identified. Patients were grouped and analyzed based on self-reported race and ethnicity as: Asian, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black (Black), non-Hispanic White (White). Individuals with undefined ethnicity were classified by race, while those lacking both race and ethnicity data were excluded. Clinicopathologic characteristics were compared across racial and ethnic groups. The association of race and ethnicity on recurrence risk was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods, competing risk analysis and multivariable analysis. Results: Overall, 4207 cases were included, of which 6% (n= 261) were Asian, 9% (n = 358) Black, 5% (n = 226) Hispanic and 80% (n = 3362) White. Median age was 57 years (IQR 49, 67), 56% received radiotherapy (RT) and 26% received endocrine therapy. Black women with DCIS were older; Asian women were younger (median age: 60 vs 53 respectively, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Black women were more likely to have a clinical presentation (p = 0.006), and Black and Hispanic women were more likely to require ≥3 excisions (p = 0.006). The use of RT was most common among Hispanic women (p = 0.02). At a median follow-up of 8.8 years, 602 (14%) had local recurrence (LR) (315 [52%] DCIS; 284 [47%] invasive and 3 [ &amp;lt; 1%] unknown). The 10-year rate of LR was 15% and was lower in those treated with RT than without (11% vs 20%, respectively; p&amp;lt; 0.0001), despite those receiving RT having more high-risk characteristics. Rates of LR varied significantly by race and ethnicity, with the highest 10-year rate in Black women (25%) compared with Asian (11%), Hispanic (15%) and White (14%) women (p = 0.03). This statistically significant difference persisted among the no RT cohort (10-year rate: 31% [Black], 13% [Asian], 25% [Hispanic], 19% [White], p = 0.043), but did not reach significance in the RT cohort (21% [Black], 9% [Asian], 9% [Hispanic] and 11% [White], p = 0.3). Using competing risk analysis, the risk of invasive recurrence was similar or lower than DCIS recurrence in each racial group with or without RT. After adjusting for other factors on multivariable analysis, there remained a higher risk of LR among Black women (hazard ratio [HR] 1.48, 95% CI 1.12-1.95, p = 0.01). Older age (p &amp;lt; 0.001), radiologic presentation (p = 0.02), margins ≥ 2 mm (p &amp;lt; 0.001), the use of endocrine therapy (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and the use of RT (p &amp;lt; 0.001) were associated with lower rates of LR (Table). Sixteen women (0.4%) developed distant disease, with similar rates among Asian (0%), Black (0.8%), Hispanic (0.9%) and White (0.3%) women (p = 0.2). Conclusion: Compared with Asian, Hispanic and White women, Black women with DCIS had a significantly higher rate of LR after BCS, even after adjusting for known clinicopathologic risk factors. Rates of distant recurrence were low, and similar across racial groups. These higher rates of LR should be considered when making decisions about adjuvant therapy. Table. Factors associated with local recurrence in women with ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery. HR, hazard ratio; CI confidence interval; Ref, referent. Citation Format: Natália Polidorio, V. Morgan Jones, Varadan Sevilimedu, Monica Morrow, Kimberly Van Zee, Andrea Barrio. Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Recurrence Risk in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Treated with Breast-Conserving Surgery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS01-07.

Enhancing NSCLC recurrence prediction with PET/CT habitat imaging, ctDNA, and integrative radiogenomics-blood insights

While we recognize the prognostic importance of clinicopathological measures and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), the independent contribution of quantitative image markers to prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains underexplored. In our multi-institutional study of 394 NSCLC patients, we utilize pre-treatment computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to establish a habitat imaging framework for assessing regional heterogeneity within individual tumors. This framework identifies three PET/CT subtypes, which maintain prognostic value after adjusting for clinicopathologic risk factors including tumor volume. Additionally, these subtypes complement ctDNA in predicting disease recurrence. Radiogenomics analysis unveil the molecular underpinnings of these imaging subtypes, highlighting downregulation in interferon alpha and gamma pathways in the high-risk subtype. In summary, our study demonstrates that these habitat imaging subtypes effectively stratify NSCLC patients based on their risk levels for disease recurrence after initial curative surgery or radiotherapy, providing valuable insights for personalized treatment approaches.

Detection of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs from a veterinary teaching hospital in Italy: a retrospective study 2012–2020

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis, responsible of diseases in dogs, are tick-borne pathogens with a proven or potential zoonotic role that have shown increasing prevalence worldwide. The aims of this retrospective study were to assess the frequency of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. exposure in dogs tested in a veterinary teaching hospital in Italy over a 9-year period, to compare the performance of the diagnostic tests used, to evaluate correlations with clinical data, and to genetically analyse the identified bacteria. During the study period, 1322 dogs tested by at least one of the rapid immunoenzymatic test, indirect immunofluorescent antibody test or end-point PCR assay for Anaplasmataceae detection were included. Dogs were tested if they had clinical signs or clinicopathological alteration or risk factors related to infection, and if they were potential blood-donor animals. Ninety-four of 1322 (7.1%) dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen: 53 (4.3%) for A. phagocytophilum, one (0.1%) for A. platys and 63 (4.6%) for E. canis. The number of dogs tested increased and the positivity rate progressively declined over the years. Comparison of tests showed a near-perfect agreement between serological tests and a poor agreement between PCR and indirect assays. A breed predisposition has been highlighted for A. phagocytophilum infection in hunting breed dogs and for E. canis infection in mixed breed dogs. Phylogeny confirmed potential zoonotic implications for A. phagocytophilum and showed no correlation of the identified bacteria with the geographical origin. Our study provides new insights into possible risk factors in dogs and evidenced discordant results between different tests, suggesting that a combination of serological and molecular assays is preferable for a correct diagnosis.

The 40-gene Expression Profile (40-GEP) Test Identifies Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) Patients at High Risk of Metastasis within Lower-Staged Tumors to Better Guide Treatment Decisions

Introduction- The development of metastases has a profound impact on cSCC patient survival. Lower-stage tumors are those that lack factors that portend higher risk for disease progression and therefore not typically considered for increased surveillance or treatment. However, up to one-third of all metastatic events have been reported for patients originally staged as T1. The 40-GEP test is validated to accurately classify risk for regional and/or distant metastasis in patients with primary cSCC with at least one high-risk factor. The current study investigated whether the 40-GEP test could independently improve identification of lower-staged tumors at increased risk of metastasis. &#x0D; Methods- In an IRB-approved, retrospective, multi-center study, primary tumor tissue and associated clinical data from patients with cSCC and one or more clinicopathologic risk factors (n=897) were collected. Within this overall cohort, lower Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) T-staged samples (n=444 T1 and n=335 T2a) were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to determine metastasis-free survival (MFS) according to 40-GEP risk class (Class 1-low metastatic risk; Class 2A-higher risk; Class 2B-highest risk).&#x0D; Results- There was a total of 118 metastatic events in the overall cohort, of which 25% (29/118) and 38% (45/118) occurred in BWH T1 and T2a, respectively. BWH T1 tumors had an overall event rate of 6.5% (29/444), with T1/Class 2B tumors having a 5.1-fold increased event rate of 33.3%. BWH T2a tumors had an overall event rate of 13.4% (45/335), with T2a/Class 2B tumors having a 2.7-fold increased event rate of 36.4%. Stratification by the 40-GEP test resulted in significantly different metastasis rates across all three 40-GEP classes within both the T1 and T2a subsets (log-rank tests, p&lt;0.0001 each subset). &#x0D; Conclusion- Within a cohort of cSCC patients considered lower risk by current staging alone, the 40-GEP identified patients with a substantial increase in metastatic risk. The observed rates of metastasis over 10% and 20% are clinically actionable for nodal staging or postoperative adjuvant radiation, respectively. Combining clinicopathologic risk assessment with individual biologic risk, as provided by the 40-GEP test, improves the accuracy of risk assessment used clinically as the basis of treatment decisions.

Risk Factors for Developing Metachronous Superficial Gastric Epithelial Neoplasms after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Background: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) provides a high rate of curative resection, the remaining gastric mucosa after ESD is at risk for metachronous superficial gastric epithelial neoplasms (MSGENs). It leaves room for risk factors for developing MSGENs after ESD. This study aimed to identify clinicopathological risk factors for the occurrence of MSGENs, and to evaluate the association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with the MSGENs. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 369 patients with 382 lesions that underwent ESD for adenoma/early gastric cancer. Results: Twenty-seven MSGENs occurred. The subjects were divided into MSGEN and not-MSGEN groups. There was a significantly higher frequency of histological intestinal metaplasia (HIM) and initial neoplasm location in the upper or middle parts (INUM) in the MSGEN group. The HIM and INUM groups had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of MSGENs. We compared 27 patients from the MSGEN group and 27 patients from the not-MSGEN group that were matched to the MSGEN group for variables including HIM and INUM. There was a significantly higher frequency of the spontaneous disappearance of H. pylori in the MSGEN group. Conclusions: HIM, INUM, and the spontaneous disappearance of H. pylori may be clinicopathological risk factors for developing MSGENs after ESD.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic impact of direct distant organ metastasis in colorectal cancer

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide, and distant metastasis is frequently noted at diagnosis or follow-up. Notably, some patients with CRC can present with distant organ metastasis without any nodal involvement, which was defined as direct distant organ metastasis (DDOM). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of DDOM for patients with CRC. MethodsThis study included 325 patients who had undergone primary colorectal cancer resection between August 2008 and December 2021. The patients with and without DDOM were compared (Kaplan–Meier analysis) in terms of overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence. Furthermore, the patients’ clinicopathological risk factors and protective factors were analyzed (multivariate Cox proportional hazards model). ResultsOf the 325 patients, 65 (20%) had DDOM (Direct+ group) and 260 (80%) did not (Direct− group). The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that OS was significantly better in the Direct+ group than in the Direct− group (p < 0.01). A subgroup analysis by CRC stage was performed; for the patients with non-stage-IV CRC, the rate of OS was significantly higher in the Direct+ group than in the Direct− group (p = 0.02). However, DDOM did not affect the OS of the patients with stage IV CRC. The multivariate analysis indicated DDOM, left colon tumor location, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were significant protective factors for disease-related mortality in the patients with non-stage-IV CRC; by contrast, body mass index, curative resection, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were identified to be significant protective factors in the patients with stage IV CRC. ConclusionsDDOM appears to be significantly associated with improved OS in patients with non-stage-IV CRC but not in those with stage IV CRC. Furthermore, the time to cancer recurrence may not vary significantly between patients with DDOM and those without it.

Downregulation of INPP4B is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma.

INPP4B is a tyrosine-specific phosphatase in the human body, which plays an important role in the developing process of carcinogenesis. However, The correlation between INPP4B and epithelial ovarian cancer is rarely explored. In this study, the expression of INPP4B in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma and normal ovaries was detected, to explore the correlation between INPP4B expression and clinicopathological risk factors of epithelial ovarian carcinoma and to clarify its significance in the developing process of and prognosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The expression of INPP4B in various tumors was detected by bioinformatics method, and the expression in epithelial ovarian cancer and normal control group was detected by Elisa. The immunohistochemical method was used in this experiment to analyze the expression of INPP4B in specimens of 100 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma and 20 cases of normal ovaries. Analysis of clinicopathological risk factors and related survival analysis was carried out on the expression of INPP4B in 100 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The results showed that the positive expressed INPP4B protein in epithelial ovarian carcinoma was significantly less, compared with that in normal ovaries (P < 0.05). The expression of INPP4B was significantly associated with many clinicopathologic factors, such as tumor differentiation (P < 0.001), FIGO stage (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis at recurrence (P=0. 009), but not with age, pathologic type of tumor, serum CA125 at recurrence and chemotherapy sensitivity. In epithelial ovarian carcinoma, there is a downregulation of INPP4B expression, which may be related to poor tumor differentiation, late FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis at recurrence and insensitivity to chemotherapy. Under-expression of INPP4B, lymph node metastasis, FIGO stage, and distant metastasis at recurrence are factors of poor prognostic. The under-expression level of INPP4B may be involved in the progression of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Integrating the 40-Gene Expression Profile (40-GEP) Test Improves Metastatic Risk-Stratification Within Clinically Relevant Subgroups of High-Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) Patients.

The validated 40-gene expression profile (40-GEP) test independently stratifies risk of regional or distant metastasis for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) tumors with high-risk clinicopathologic features. This study evaluated the stratification of risk by the 40-GEP test in a large cohort of tumors with one or more high-risk factors and in clinically relevant subgroups, including tumors within National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) high- and very-high-risk groups, lower-stage BWH T1 and T2a tumors, and patients > 65years old. This multicenter (n = 58) performance study of the 40-GEP included 897 patients. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to assess risk stratification profiles for 40-GEP Class 1 (low), Class 2A (higher) and Class 2B (highest) risk groups, while nested Cox regression models were used to compare risk prediction of clinicopathologic risk classification systems versus risk classification systems in combination with 40-GEP. Patients classified as 40-GEP Class 1, Class 2A, or Class 2B had significantly different metastatic risk profiles (p < 0.0001). Integrating 40-GEP results into models with individual clinicopathologic risk factors or risk classification systems (Brigham and Women's Hospital, American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition) and NCCN demonstrated significant improvement in accuracy for prediction of metastatic events (ANOVA for model deviance, p < 0.0001 for all models). The 40-GEP test demonstrates accurate, independent, clinically actionable stratification of metastatic risk and improves predictive accuracy when integrated into risk classification systems. The improved accuracy of risk assessment when including tumor biology via the 40-GEP test ensures more risk-aligned, personalized patient management decisions.

Characteristics and Risk Factors of Delayed Perforation in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer.

(1) Background: Delayed perforation after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer is a relatively uncommon and serious complication that sometimes requires emergency surgery. This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological features, risk factors, and appropriate management strategies for delayed perforation. (2) Methods: This study included 735 patients with 791 lesions who underwent ESD for early gastric cancer at a single institution between July 2009 and June 2019. We retrospectively compared the clinical features of patients with and without delayed perforations. (3) Results: The incidence of delayed perforations was 0.91%. The identified risk factors included a postoperative stomach condition and histopathological ulceration. A comparison between delayed and intraoperative perforations revealed a postoperative stomach condition as a characteristic risk factor for delayed perforation. Patients with delayed perforation who avoided emergency surgery tended to exhibit an earlier onset of symptoms such as abdominal pain and fever. No peritoneal seeding following delayed perforation was observed for any patient. (4) Conclusions: A postoperative stomach condition and histopathological ulceration were risk factors for delayed perforation. Delayed perforation is a significant complication that requires careful monitoring after gastric ESD for early gastric cancer, particularly in patients with postoperative gastric conditions.

Liver resection in selective hepatocellular carcinoma with Vp3 or Vp4 portal vein tumor thrombosis improves prognosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor thrombi located in the first branch of the portal vein (Vp3) or in the main portal trunk (Vp4) are associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and risk factors for HCC recurrence and mortality following liver resection (LR) in patients with Vp3 or Vp4 HCC. The study included 64 patients who underwent LR for HCC with Vp3 or Vp4 portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). Fifty-eight patients (90.6%) had Vp3 PVTT, whereas the remaining six patients exhibited Vp4 PVTT. The median tumor size measured 8 cm, with approximately 36% of patients presented with multiple tumors. Fifty-four patients (84.4%) underwent open LR, whereas 10 patients underwent laparoscopic LR. In the Vp4 cases, combined LR and tumor thrombectomy were performed. The 3-year cumulative disease-free survival rate was 42.8% for the Vp3 group and 22.2% for the Vp4 group. The overall survival (OS) rate at 3 years was 47.9% for the Vp3 group and 60.0% for the Vp4 group. Intrahepatic metastasis has been identified as an important contributor to HCC recurrence. High hemoglobin levels are associated with high mortality. LR is a safe and effective treatment modality for selected patients with Vp3 or Vp4 HCC PVTT. This suggests that LR is a viable option for these patients, with favorable outcomes in terms of OS.

CTC together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC

BackgroundThe lack of appropriate prognostic biomarkers remains a significant obstacle in the early detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), a cancer type with a high mortality rate. Despite considerable advancements in treatment, the success in diagnosing HNSCC at an early stage still needs to be improved. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) are overexpressed in various cancers, including HNSCC, and have recently been proposed as possible therapeutic targets for HNSCC. Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) is a novel concept used for the early detection of cancers, and studies have suggested that a higher CTC count is associated with the aggressiveness of HNSCC and poor survival rates. Therefore, we aimed to establish molecular markers for the early diagnosis of HNSCC considering Shh/Nrf2 overexpression in the background. In addition, the relation between Shh/Nrf2 and CTCs is still unexplored in HNSCC patients.MethodsIn the present study, we selected a cohort of 151 HNSCC patients and categorized them as CTC positive or negative based on the presence or absence of CTCs in their peripheral blood. Data on demographic and clinicopathological features with the survival of the patients were analyzed to select the patient cohort to study Shh/Nrf2 expression. Shh and Nrf2 expression was measured by qRT-PCR.ResultsConsidering significant demographic [smoking, betel leaf (p-value < 0.0001)] and clinicopathological risk factors [RBC count (p < 0.05), Platelet count (p < 0.05), Neutrophil count (p < 0.005), MCV (p < 0.0001), NLR (p < 0.05), MLR (p < 0.05)], patients who tested positive for CTC also exhibited significant overexpression of Shh/Nrf2 in both blood and tissue compared to CTC-negative patients. A strong association exists between CTCs and tumor grade. Following chemotherapy (a combination of Cisplatin, 5FU, and Paclitaxel), the frequency of CTCs was significantly decreased in patients with HNSCC who had tested positive for CTCs. The Kaplan–Meier plot illustrated that a higher number of CTCs is associated with poorer overall survival (OS) in patients with HNSCC.ConclusionsDetecting CTCs, and higher expression of Shh and Nrf2 in HNSCC patients’ blood, can be a promising tool for diagnosing and prognosticating HNSCC.