Important Prognostic Factor For Overall Survival Research Articles

Predictors and outcomes of recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma with multiple tumors.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLS) is a rare but severe disease. Repeated postoperative recurrence with multiple tumors is a therapeutic dilemma. The clinical outcomes and survival predictors of recurrent RLS with multiple tumors remain to be explored. Patients with recurrent RLS were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to find independent prognostic factors that were correlated with Overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS). Factors significant in univariate analysis were further included into multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The nomogram model was built to predict the survival status of patients. Variables that were significant in multivariable analysis were added to the internally validated nomogram models. The analysis of OS and PFS was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. A total of 113 recurrent RLS patients with multiple tumors were enrolled in the study. The 1-, 3-, and 5-years OS (PFS) rates were 70.7% (76.1%), 35.9% (76.1%), and 30.9% (76.1%), respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that number of surgeries, resection methods, tumor size, status of pathological differentiation, pathological subtypes, and recurrence patterns were important prognostic factors for OS or PFS (each p < 0.05). Nomogram models were established to efficiently predict the prognostic status of patients. Patients with the local recurrence (LR) pattern had a poor prognosis and would derive no survival benefit from combined organ resection and R0/R1 resection (each p < 0.05). RLS patients recurrence with multiple tumors had a poor prognosis. Those patients should be followed up more frequently after surgery. The strategies of aggressive resection may not improve the survival of patients with LR pattern in the retroperitoneum. Prognostic factors in the efficient nomogram models should be considered in the individualized clinical management of recurrent RLS with multiple tumors.

Survival outcomes among patients with multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents: exploratory assessment using an electronic medical record database in Japan.

Despite recent advances in the range of therapies available for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), there are limited data surrounding survival outcomes and baseline characteristics influencing survival in general clinical practice in Japan. The aim of this study was to use electronic medical records (EMRs) to examine overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors in Japanese patients with MM. We extracted EMRs in the Real World Data (RWD) database of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MM and treatment history with bortezomib, thalidomide, and/or lenalidomide. OS and prognostic factors for OS were analyzed using a univariate analysis and decision tree model. Of the 6509 patients in the database with a diagnosis of MM, 1565 were eligible. Patients had a median (range) age of 72 (23-92) years, a median OS of 53.5 months, and a 5-year OS rate of 45.6%. In alignment with previous studies, International Staging System stage and age were prognostic of OS. In addition, platelet and erythrocyte counts, chloride, total protein, C-reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were identified as important prognostic factors for OS and were used to pilot a simple prognostic tool. In conclusion, we found that the survival outcomes extracted from EMRs in the RWD of Japanese patients with MM aligned with a previous retrospective study from Japan. Baseline laboratory parameters prognostic for OS were explored with additional factors to International Staging System and age identified. These might be used to optimize treatment selection, although further investigation using additional data sources is required.

Prognostic factors in diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT): a systematic review

Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) is a rare tumor, first described by the WHO Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors in 2016. The clinical course is variable. Most tumors have low-grade histological findings although some may have more aggressive features. The goal of this systematic review was to identify prognostic factors for poor overall survival (OS). We performed a systematic review using three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase) and the following search terms: diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor, DLGNT, DLMGNT. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.3. We included 34 reports in our review comprising 63 patients, published from 2016 to 2022. The median OS was 19months (range: 12-51months). Using multivariable Cox survival analysis, we showed that Ki-67 ≥ 7%, age > 9years, symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) at admission, and the presence of contrast-enhancing intraparenchymal tumor are associated with poor OS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified Ki-67 ≥ 7% as a significant predictor of poor OS. Signs or symptoms of increased ICP with imaging findings of diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement should raise suspicion for DLGNT. In our systematic review, Ki-67 ≥ 7% was the most important prognostic factor for OS in DLGNT. The presence of intraparenchymal tumor with contrast enhancement was thought to represent disease progression and, together with patient age, was associated with poor OS.

Prognostic factors of primary neuroendocrine breast cancer: A population‐based study

BackgroundPrimary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas (NEBCs) are an extremely rare and underrecognized subtype of mammalian carcinoma. The prognostic factors for NEBCs remain controversial.MethodsIn this multicenter retrospective study, the prognostic factors for patients with primary NEBCs who underwent surgery and had a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma in China and the United States were examined. The endpoints were disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsA total of 51 Chinese patients and 98 US patients were included. In the Chinese cohort, tumor grade and Ki‐67 levels were prognostic factors for DFS in univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.11 [1.67–15.60], p = 0.004; HR = 57.70 [6.36–523.40], p < 0.001, respectively) and multivariate analysis (HR = 100.52 [1.33–7570.21], p = 0.037; HR = 31.47 [1.05–945.82], p = 0.047, respectively). In the US cohort, age was an important prognostic factor for OS in univariate analysis (HR = 1.09 [1.04–1.15], p = 0.001). The random effects model for the combined cohorts revealed age and positive expression of estrogen receptor (ER) as potential prognostic factors for OS (HR = 1.08 [1.01–1.14], p = 0.015; HR = 0.10 [0.02–0.44], p = 0.003, respectively).ConclusionsTumor grade and Ki‐67 levels are important prognostic factors for DFS of patients with primary NEBCs. Age and ER status are important prognostic factors for OS of patients with primary NEBCs.

An Overview of Surgical Treatment of Thymic Epithelial Tumors in Korea: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis.

BackgroundThymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, and information regarding their surgical outcomes and prognostic factors has rapidly changed in the past few decades. We analyzed surgical treatment practices for TETs and outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and freedom from recurrence (FFR) during a 13-year period in Korea.MethodsIn total, 1,298 patients with surgically resected TETs between 2000 and 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. OS and FFR were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for OS and FFR were analyzed with multivariable Cox regression.ResultsA total of 1,098 patients were diagnosed with thymoma, and 200 patients were diagnosed with thymic carcinoma. Over the study period, the total number of patients with surgically treated TETs and the proportion of patients who underwent minimally invasive thymic surgery (MITS) increased annually. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of surgically treated TETs were 91.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were 86.3% and 80.0%, respectively. The outcomes of surgically treated TETs improved over time. Multivariable Cox hazards analysis for OS, age, tumor size, and Masaoka-Koga stage were independent predictors of prognosis. The World Health Organization classification and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging were also related to the prognosis of TETs.ConclusionSurgical treatment of TETs achieved a good prognosis with a recent increase in MITS. The M-K stage was the most important prognostic factor for OS and FFR. The new TNM stage could also be an effective predictor of the outcomes of TETs.

The Role of Regional Disease and Patterns of Treatment Failure in Primary Sinonasal Malignancies.

BackgroundThe question how to treat the clinically negative neck in sinonasal malignancies is controversial.ObjectivesTo investigate patterns of treatment failure and to assess outcome measures in patients with primary sinonasal malignancies.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of patients treated for primary malignant sinonasal malignancies.ResultsLymph node (LN) metastases at initial presentation were present in 8 of 152 patients (5.3%). Ipsi- and contralateral LN levels 1 and 2 were identified as nodal basins at risk. We found a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 75.2% and disease free survival of 61.1%. Among patients with cN0 neck, nodal recurrence free survival was not different between patients with and without elective neck treatment (P = .23). On logistic regression analysis, we found initial T classification as an independent factor for achievement of complete remission (CR) and OS.ConclusionsLN metastases at initial presentation are rare and initial T classification was identified as the most important prognostic factor for OS and CR, emphasizing the need for a thorough initial staging of the primary tumor.

Important CT and histopathological findings for recurrence and overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

To investigate important factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX using CT and histopathological findings. Sixty-nine patients with PDA who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX were retrospectively included. All patients underwent baseline and first follow-up CT. Two reviewers assessed the CT findings and resectability based on the NCCN guideline. They graded extrapancreatic perineural invasion (EPNI) using a 3-point scale focused on 5 routes. Clinical and histopathological results, such as T- and N-stage, tumor regression grade (TRG) using the College of American Pathology (CAP) grading system, and resection status, were also investigated. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for RFS and OS. The Cox proportional hazard model and logistic regression model were used to identify significant predictive factors. There were 57 patients (82.6%) without residual tumors (R0) and 12 patients (17.4%) with residual tumors (R1 or R2). The median RFS was 13 months (range 0~22 months). For RFS, EPNI on baseline CT (hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.116-5.733, p = 0.026) and TRG (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.000-3.076, p = 0.046) were important predictors of early recurrence. The mean OS was 48 months (range 11~35 months). For OS, TRG (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.251-6.559, p = 0.013) was a significant factor. However, there were no independent predictors for residual tumors according to the CT findings. EPNI on baseline CT and TRG were important prognostic factors for tumor recurrence. In addition, TRG was also an important prognostic factor for OS. • CT and histopathological findings are helpful for predicting early recurrence and poor survival. • EPNI on baseline CT (HR 2.53, p = 0.026) is an important predictor of early recurrence. • The TRG is an important prognostic factor for early recurrence (HR 1.76, p = 0.046) and poor survival (HR 1.05, p = 0.013).

Characteristics of male triple negative breast cancer: A population-based study.

Male triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), is a very rare entity, comprising only a very small percentage of all male breast cancer cases. Management strategies are typically based off research conducted in female TNBC patients; however, there is still much that remains unknown in the male cohort, such as risk factors for developing these malignancies, the optimal treatment approach, and both short-term and long-term outcome data. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to address these concerns by assessing both the characteristics of male patients who develop TNBC as well as their outcomes. We harnessed data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and identified 66 male patients diagnosed with TNBC between 2010 and 2016. Patients were stratified by several variables including age, insurance status, time period of diagnosis, histology, nodal status, tumor grade, tumor stage at diagnosis, and treatment strategy employed for the assessment of overall survival (OS) differences. Our analysis demonstrated that stage remains the most important prognostic factor for OS, with higher stage corresponding to worse OS. A significant OS benefit was also identified in men undergoing a total mastectomy, compared to partial mastectomy or no surgery at all. We also identified that male patients are more likely to present with more advanced disease stages compared to their female counterparts and, therefore, have worse outcomes on average. This may be due to various factors, including the rarity of male TNBC cases and less clear screening guidelines for male breast cancer in general. Trends toward poorer OS with higher tumor grade, higher tumor T stage, advanced age, earlier time period of diagnosis, and ductal histology were also identified, but did not achieve statistical significance. The remaining variables did not appear to influence outcomes in a meaningful manner. In summary, our study suggests, similar to population studies of women with TNBC, that tumor stage is a major prognostic factor of OS in men with TNBC. The data also suggest that the surgical treatment strategy employed is also likely of significance, with improved OS being seen with total mastectomies over partial mastectomies. Other variables such as tumor grade and T stage also likely play a role, but did not achieve statistical significance owing to the small population size. Owing to the rarity of cases, further studies of male TNBC are needed to better understand this rare entity and guide future management strategies.

Long-term outcomes of immediate autologous breast reconstruction after definite adjuvant therapy in intermediate and locally advanced breast cancer.

To analyze oncologic outcomes and reconstruction quality in locally advanced stage breast cancer after performing immediate autologous breast reconstruction (IABR). From 2007 to 2014, data of patients aged ≤70 years old with stage II-III breast cancer who received total mastectomy (TM) were extracted from medical records. Exclusion criteria were: previous contralateral breast cancer, follow-up loss before adjuvant therapy completion, and artificial reconstruction. Patients were divided into two groups: (I) TM alone, and (II) TM + IABR. Overall survival (OS) and loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) were calculated. Times of minor revision, abnormal image findings in breast, and change of breast height were observed. Sixty-one of 188 patients received IABR after TM. Stage IIIB-C was the most important prognostic factor for OS (P<0.001) and LRRFS (P<0.001). For stage II, five-year TM and TM + IABR OS rates were 96.8% and 100% (P=0.324), respectively. For stage IIIB-C, five-year TM and TM + IABR OS rates were 57.6% and 62.5% (P=0.544), respectively. For stage II, five-year TM and TM + IABR LRRFS were 98.1% and 95.7% (P=0.998), respectively. For stage IIIB-C, five-year TM and TM + IABR LRRFS were 70.8% and 62.5% (P=0.378), respectively. Two major complications were observed after IABR. Minor revisions, abnormal image findings, and change of breast height were common without showing significant relation with adjuvant radiotherapy or tumor stage. IABR showed feasible oncologic outcomes in 5-year follow-up. Adjuvant radiotherapy had little effect on quality of reconstruction. However, IABR in advanced stage should be cautiously applied considering expected survival and minor problems after IABR.

Stratification based on adverse laboratory/pathological features for predicting overall survival in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: A K-CaP registry-based analysis.

When making clinical decisions concerning additional treatment for patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy (RP), adverse laboratory/pathological features are considered major factors. We investigated and compared the prognostic efficacy of adverse laboratory/pathological features in predicting overall survival (OS) and biochemical failure (BCF) in these patients.The Korean Prostate Cancer Database was used to identify patients undergoing RP between May 2001 and April 2013. Patients with incomplete clinicopathological data or positive lymphadenectomy results were excluded. Finally, 4486 patients included in the final analysis were categorized based on their adverse laboratory/pathological features.Adverse pathological features and detectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels 6 weeks after surgery were observed in 1977 (44.1%) and 634 (14.1%) patients, respectively. PSA levels, pathological Gleason score ≥8, adverse pathological features [positive surgical margin (PSM), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), and extracapsular extension (ECE)], and adverse laboratory features (detectable PSA levels after 6 weeks) together were significant predictors of BCF-free survival (BCFFS). SVI was identified as a predictor of OS. Additionally, patients with ECE, PSM, and detectable PSA levels after 6 weeks, but without SVI, showed similar OS to those without ECE, PSM, and detectable PSA levels after 6 weeks and with SVI (log-rank test, P = .976).We successfully stratified patients based on adverse laboratory/pathological features after RP and demonstrated that these are important prognostic factors for OS and BCFFS. Additionally, we identified the criteria for selecting appropriate patients for undergoing additional treatment based on OS and BCFFS.

Abstract P5-16-18: Oncologic outcomes and reconstruction quality of immediate autologous breast reconstruction in intermediate and locally advanced breast cancer

Abstract Purpose: We analyzed oncologic outcomes and reconstruction quality in locally advanced stage breast cancer after performing immediate autologous breast reconstruction (IABR). Methods: From 2007 to 2014, data of patients with stage II-III breast cancer of ≤ 70-years-old who received total mastectomy (TM) from two institutions were extracted. Exclusion criteria were: previous contralateral breast cancer, follow-up loss before adjuvant therapy completion, and artificial reconstruction. Patients were divided into two groups; 1) TM alone and 2) TM+IABR. Overall survival (OS) and loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) were calculated and minor revision, abnormal volume on CT, and breast height change were observed. Results: Sixty-one of 188 patients received IABR after TM. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy was done in 27 and 80 patients, respectively. Fifty-nine percent, 19.2%, and 21.8% of patients were in stage II, IIIA, and IIIB-C, respectively. Stage IIIB-C was the most important prognostic factor for OS and LRRFS. In a median of 56.8 follow-up months, 5-year TM and TM+IABR OS rate were 96.8% and 100% for stage II (P=0.324) and 57.6%, 95.5% and 91.7% for stage IIIA (P=0.698), and 62.5% for stage IIIB-C (P=0.544), respectively. Five-year TM and TM+IABR LRRFS were 98.1% and 95.7% for stage II (P=0.998)91.1% and 100% for stage IIIA (P=0.277), and 70.8% and 62.5% for stage IIIB-C (P=0.378), respectively. However, two locoregional failures after 5-years were developed in stage IIIB-C of TM+IABR at 71 and 94 months. Minor revisions 3 months of IABR, including two major complications, were done in 49.2%. The reduction of breast height was 21.2% (11/52) and 31.9% (15/47) in about 18 months and about 42 months observations after IABR, respectively. The volume of abnormal imaging was over 10 cc in 27.3% (15/55) on CT of 6 months after IABR. Although minor revisions, abnormal volume on CT, and breast height change were common, they were not related to therapeutic methods, including radiotherapy and tumor stage. Conclusions: In about 5-years follow-up, IABR did not aggravate oncologic outcomes, and adjuvant radiotherapy was not closely related with quality of reconstruction. It must be considered, however, that absolute oncologic outcomes of advanced stage were not sufficient, and minor problems post-IABR were commonly developed. Citation Format: Yoon WS, Yang DS, Son GS, Woo SU, Kim D-W, Dhong E-S, Chang YW. Oncologic outcomes and reconstruction quality of immediate autologous breast reconstruction in intermediate and locally advanced breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-18.

The Utility of Dissected Lymph Node Number and Lymph Node Metastasis Ratio In Stage IIIC Endometrium Adenocarcinoma: A Multicentric Analysis

The prognostic impact of number of dissected and metastatic lymph nodes, the lymph node metastasis ratio in stage IIIC endometrium cancer is not well-studied. Thus, the purpose of this retrospective multicentric study is to investigate the prognostic value of the number of dissected (LNC) and positive nodes (pN) with the value of the lymph node ratio (LNR) in FIGO stage IIIC endometrial cancer patient who received postoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. From January 2001 to December 2016, a total of 180 stage IIIC endometrial cancer patients who were treated with surgery and adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy (RT) (51 patients, 28%) or radiotherapy and chemotherapy (RT-CT) (129 patients, 72%) were retrospective analyzed. The LNR was defined as the number of positive lymph nodes divided by the total number of lymph nodes dissected. The endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The median age and follow up times for entire cohort were 60 years (range 36 – 88 years) and 50.5 months (range 2.8 – 199.2 months), respectively. The median dissected and metastatic lymph node numbers were 36 (range 5 – 34) and 2 (range 1 – 45), respectively. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified 36 [AUC=0.390 (%95CI; 0.304-0.476); p=002] as cut-off value for LNC, with 53% sensitivity and 53% specificity. For LNR, the cut-off value determined in ROC analysis was 10% [AUC=0.636 (%95CI; 0.548 – 0.725), p=0.001] with 60% sensitivity and 60% specificity. In univariate analysis, patients with an LNC ≥36 and LNR value less than 10% had better 5-year OS (68% vs 54% p=0.04; %76.0% vs.45.0%, p < 0.001 respectively), 5-year PFS rates (67% vs 48% p=0.01; 74% vs. 41%, p<0.001 respectively). Multivariate analysis only revealed that LNR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR=2.06 (95% CI; 1.26-3.36); p=0.004) and PFS [HR=1.83 (95%CI; 1.16-2.88; p = 0.001)]. Additional analyses revealed grade I-II histology, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy showed better OS and PFS than counterpart groups (p=0.02, p<0.001 and p=0.04 and p<0.001 respectively). More than 10% LNR and high grade (grade III) histology are an important prognostic factors for OS and PFS in stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma patients. Our findings suggest that addition of chemotherapy to RT should be the preferred adjuvant treatment strategy for patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer with higher grade disease and high lymph node metastasis ratio.

Primary tumor sidedness is an independent prognostic marker for survival in metastatic colorectal cancer: Results from a large retrospective cohort with mutational analysis

Recent reports demonstrate inferior outcomes associated with primary right‐sided vs left‐sided colorectal tumors in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We sought to describe our experience with mCRC patients on whom we have molecular data to determine whether primary tumor sidedness was an independent prognostic marker for overall survival (OS). mCRC patients with documented primary tumor sidedness who received mutational profiling between 2009 and 2014 were identified (n = 367, median follow‐up 30.4 months). Mutational profiling for >150 mutations across commonly mutated cancer genes including RAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, and PTEN as well as treatment data, including receipt of a biologic agent, were collected. Univariable/multivariable models were used to analyze relationships between collected data and OS. Among 367 patients, sidedness breakdown was as follows: 234 left (64%), 133 right (36%). 56% were male, with a median age at diagnosis of 57 (range 24‐89). A total of 143 patients had RAS mutations. Five‐year OS was 41%, median OS was 54 months (range 1‐149). Five‐year OS for left‐ vs right‐sided tumors was 46% vs 24% (P < .0001). On univariable analysis, among both RAS wildtype and mutant tumors, left‐sided tumors continued to have improved OS vs right‐sided tumors (HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.34‐0.69 RAS wildtype; HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40‐0.95 RAS mutant). Left‐sidedness was an important prognostic factor for OS among RAS wildtype patients despite treatment with or without a biologic agent (P < .05). Left‐sidedness remained significant for improved OS on multivariable analysis (P < .0001). Left‐sided primary tumor remained most important prognostic factor for OS, even when adjusting for mutational status and receipt of biologic agent.

Overall Survival of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients: A Single-Institution Long-Term Follow-Up of 5897 Patients

IntroductionPapillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally shows an excellent prognosis except in cases with aggressive backgrounds or clinicopathological features. Although the cause-specific survival (CSS) of PTC patients has been extensively investigated, the overall survival (OS) of these patients is unclear. We herein investigated both the OS and CSS of a large PTC patient series.Materials and methodsWe enrolled 5897 PTC patients who underwent initial surgery between 1987 and 2005 (658 males and 5339 females; median age 51 years). Their median postoperative follow-up period was 177 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS and CSS assessed the effects of gender, older age (≥55 years), distant metastasis at diagnosis (M1), significant extrathyroid extension, tumor size (cutoffs 2 and 4 cm), large node metastasis (N ≥ 3 cm), and extranodal tumor extension.ResultsTo date, 387 patients (7%) in this series have died from various causes, including 117 (2%) due to PTC. The 10-, 15-, and 20-year OS rates are 97, 95, and 90%, respectively. Older age and M1 were important prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Older age was a more significant factor than M1 for OS and vice versa for CSS. In the older patients, M1 was a prominent prognostic factor for both OS and CSS. In the young patients, M1 had less prognostic impact than in the older patients, and the prognostic values of M1 and N ≥ 3 cm for OS and CSS were identical and similar, respectively.ConclusionsThe most important prognostic value for OS was patient age, indicating that PTC is generally indolent. However, the control of distant metastasis in older patients remains a future challenge in order to further improve their OS and CSS. PTC of ≥3 cm in young patients should be carefully followed, even in the absence of metastases, and these patients should undergo aggressive therapies for recurrent lesions and metastases.

Prognostic role of lymphovascular invasion and lymph node status among breast cancer subtypes

Context: Breast cancer subtype (BCS) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) have both been independently demonstrated as prognostic factors. Aims: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the prognostic power of LVI among BCSs. Settings and Design: From an institutional database, 2017 women with a histopathologically confirmed the diagnosis of breast cancer treated between January 2006 and December 2014 were consecutively selected. Subjects and Methods: Information recorded for each patient included age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and date of death or last contact. Total incidences of recurrence or death from breast cancer were ascertained from follow-up lasting until 31 June 2013. Institutional review board approval was obtained through our institution's human investigations committee. Statistical Analysis Used: Univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model with a stepwise backward elimination to derive a final model of variables with a significant independent relationship with overall survival (OS) and recurrent-free survival (RFS). All statistical analyses were two-sided with significance defined as P < 0.05. Results: For the entire cohort, the median follow-up OS period was 43.2 months. Tumor size, LVI, lymph node status, and treatment factors (operation type, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy) differed among subtypes with respect to OS and RFS. The highest incidence of LVI positivity (26.4% vs. 26.9%, respectively) and lymph node involvement (39.7% vs. 36.4%, respectively) occurred in the luminal B and luminal HER2 subtypes. There were significant differences in the OS and RFS rates according the LVI among the BCS. On multivariate analysis, there were significant differences in OS according to the status of lymph node-negative and LVI-positive in the luminal HER2 subtype, as well as lymph node-positive and LVI-positive in the triple negative (TN) subtype. There were also significant differences in RFS according to the status of lymph node-negative and LVI-positive in the luminal A subgroup. Conclusions: LVI in BCS was an important prognostic factor for OS and RFS. LVI and lymph node status were important prognostic factor for OS and RFS among BCSs. There were significant differences in OS according to the lymph node-negative and LVI-positive in the distribution of luminal HER2, the lymph node-positive, and LVI-positive in the distribution of TN. There were also significant differences in the RFS according to the lymph node-negative and LVI-positive in the luminal A.

Survival and the prognosticators of peritoneal cytology-positive pancreatic cancer patients undergoing curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

The factors associated with the survival and prognosis of peritoneal cytology (CY)-positive pancreatic cancer patients who undergo curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy have not been established. Both overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were examined in 23 peritoneal CY-positive pancreatic cancer patients who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy between 2005 and 2015. When the length of OS was evaluated using a log-rank test, significant differences were observed in the number of metastatic lymph nodes. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the number of metastatic lymph nodes was a significant independent risk factor for OS and a marginally significant risk factor for RFS. The 3-year OS rate was 20.2% in patients with ≤8 metastatic lymph nodes, and it was 0% in those with the ≥9 metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.017). The 3-year RFS rate was 6.3% in patients with ≤8 metastatic lymph nodes, whereas it was 0% in those with ≥9 metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.062). The number of metastatic lymph nodes is the most important prognostic factor for OS and RFS in peritoneal CY-positive pancreatic cancer patients who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. To improve the survival of these patients, it is necessary to establish optimal treatments.

Prognostic value of the maximum standardized uptake value of pre-treatment primary lesions in small-cell lung cancer on 18F-FDG PET/CT: a meta-analysis.

Background 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) has been widely used in clinical practice. However, the prognostic value of the pre-treatment standardized uptake value (SUV) for patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains controversial. Purpose To investigate the prognostic role of pre-treatment 18F-FDG PET on SCLC patients by meta-analysis. Material and Methods Extensive literature searches of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were conducted to identify literature published until 5 May 2017. Comparative analyses of the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed to assess their correlations with the pre-treatment maximum SUV (SUVmax). Either the fixed- or the random-effects model was adopted, depending on the heterogeneity observed across the studies. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. Results Twelve studies with 1062 patients were included. The pooled HR for OS of 11 studies was 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.22; P = 0.001; I2 = 0%) and the pooled HR for EFS of nine studies was 1.09 (95% CI = 1.02-1.17; P = 0.014; I2 = 0%), indicating that patients with high SUVs may have poorer prognoses. Begg's test detected no significant publication bias. The prognostic role of the SUVmax remained similar in the subgroup analyses. Conclusion Our meta-analysis indicated that the pre-treatment SUVmax of primary lesions can be an important prognostic factor for OS and EFS in patients with SCLC. A high SUVmax may indicate poorer prognosis.

Prognostic value of total lesion glycolysis and metabolic active tumor volume in non-small cell lung cancer

IntroductionTo predict the outcome of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) the currently used prognostic system (TNM) is not accurate enough. The prognostic significance of the SUVmax measured by PET remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value in overall survival and progression free survival of SUVmax, the total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and the mean metabolic active volume (MATV) in NSCLC. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 105 patients (72 males, 33 females) with a new diagnosis of NSCLC (TNM stage I: 27.6%, II: 10.5%, III: 40.9% and IV: 21.0%) who underwent scanning with a PET/CT. For VOI definition a semi-automatic delineation tool was used. On PET images SUVmax, SUVmean and MATV of the primary tumor and the whole tumor burden were measured. TLG and MATV were measured by using a threshold of 50% of SUVmax. ResultsOS and PFS are found to be higher in patients with low-SUVTmax and low-TLGT values. OS and PFS were significantly higher for low-SUVWTBmax, low-MATVWTB and low-TLGWTB values of the whole-tumor burden.Multivariate analysis of the whole-tumor burden revealed that the most important prognostic factors for OS are high MATVWTB and TLGWTB values, increasing stage and male gender. TLGWTB and stage are also independent prognosticators in PFS. ConclusionOnly whole-body TLG is of prognostic value in NSCLC for both OS and PFS. Stratification of patients by TLGWTB might complement outcome prediction but the TNM stage remains the most important determinant of prognosis. MicroabstractIn order to predict the outcome of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) the currently used prognostic system (TNM) is not accurate enough. The prognostic significance of the standard uptake value (SUV) measured by PET remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value in overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) of the standard uptake value (SUV), the total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and the mean metabolic active volume (MATV) in NSCLC. The study reveals that TLG of the whole-tumor burden is an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS in patients with NSCLC.

Overexpression of epithelial cell transforming 2 protein in colorectal carcinoma predicts a poor prognosis.

Epithelial cell transforming 2 (Ect2) protein is a member of the human diffuse B-cell lymphoma family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors, which activate the Ras homolog gene family of small GTPases; however, the clinical implications of Ect2 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) are unclear. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between Ect2 expression and prognosis in patients with CRC. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry assays were used to determine the expression of Ect2 in CRC and paired non-cancerous tissues from 66 patients. The correlation between Ect2 expression and clinicopathological parameters was assessed using χ2 tests. Patient survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis of prognostic factors. Results demonstrated that Ect2 protein was highly expressed in human CRC samples [29/45 (64.45%)] and significantly correlated with a poor prognosis (P<0.05). Compared with normal tissues, CRC tissues demonstrated higher expression levels of Ect2 mRNA [44/66 (66.67%)]. In addition, highly-expressed Ect2 was significantly associated with recurrence (P=0.023) and invasion (P=0.008) of CRC. High Ect2 expression levels in patients were associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) compared with lower expression levels of Ect2. Based on multivariate analysis, Ect2 overexpression was significantly correlated with OS and DFS (P=0.015 and 0.020, respectively). In conclusion, Ect2 overexpression is an independent and important prognostic factor for OS and DFS in patients with CRC.

Prognostic value of extracapsular spread of regional lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with 3DCRT based on magnetic resonance imaging

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of the extracapsular spread (ECS) of regional lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods A retrospective review was performed for 477 previously untreated patients with NPC who were treated in Yuebei People′s Hospital from January 2009 to December 2013.Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the prognostic value of ECS in NPC. Results There were 216 patients with ECS and 261 patients without ECS, and the median survival of the two groups of patients was 38.5 months and 39.0 months, respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates of the patients with ECS versus those without ECS were 81.9% versus 90.7%, 65.8% versus 85.0%, 87.8% versus 95.8%, and 80.3% versus 92.9%, respectively (all P=0.000). The univariate analysis showed that N stage and ECS were important prognostic factors for OS, PFS, LRFS, and DMFS in NPC patients (P=0.000-0.004), and T stage and TNM stage were associated with OS, PFS, and DMFS (all P=0.000). The multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model showed that T stage was an independent prognostic factor for the survival of NPC patients, and ECS was an important prognostic factor for PFS, LRFS, and DMFS. Conclusion ECS of regional lymph nodes is a risk factor for local recurrence or distant metastasis in patients with NPC. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasms/three-dimensional radiotherapy; Neoplasm metastasis, lymph nodes; Prognosis