Independent Prognostic Factor For Overall Survival Research Articles

Construction of prognostic markers for gastric cancer and comprehensive analysis of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs.

China's most frequent malignancy is gastric cancer (GC), which has a very poor survival rate, and the survival rate for patients with advanced GC is dismal. Pyroptosis has been connected to the genesis and development of cancer. The function of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (PRLs) in GC, on the other hand, remains uncertain. To explore the construction and comprehensive analysis of the prognostic characteristics of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) related to pyroptosis in GC patients. The TCGA database provided us with 352 stomach adenocarcinoma samples, and we obtained 28 pyroptotic genes from the Reactome database. We examined the correlation between lncRNAs and pyroptosis using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Prognosis-related PRLs were identified through univariate Cox analysis. A predictive signature was constructed using stepwise Cox regression analysis, and its reliability and independence were assessed. To facilitate clinical application, a nomogram was created based on this signature. we analyzed differences in immune cell infiltration, immune function, and checkpoints between the high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG). Five hundred and twenty-three PRLs were screened from all lncRNAs (absolute correlation coefficient > 0.4, P < 0.05). Nine PRLs were included in the risk prediction signature that was created through stepwise Cox regression analysis. We determined the risk score for GC patients and employed the median value as the dividing line between HRG and LRG. The ability of the risk signature to predict the overall survival (OS) of GC is demonstrated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis, risk curve, receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis curve. The risk signature was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for OS in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. HRG showed a more efficient local immune response or modulation compared to LRG, as indicated by the predicted signal pathway analysis and examination of immune cell infiltration, function, and checkpoints (P < 0.05). In general, we have created a brand-new prognostic signature using PRLs, which may provide ideas for immunotherapy in patients with GC.

No survival benefit of primary tumor resection for non-small cell lung cancer patients with unexpectedly detected pleural disseminated nodules in the era of targeted therapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with pleural dissemination are generally contraindicated for surgery. This study aimed to investigate the survival benefits of primary tumor resection for NSCLC patients with unexpectedly detected pleural disseminated nodules during thoracotomy in the era of targeted therapy. Of the 4984 patients with NSCLC who underwent surgery without induction therapy between 2000 and 2021, we retrospectively evaluated 90 (1.8%) patients with unexpectedly detected pleural disseminated nodule. Survival analyses were performed with Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression. Among the evaluated patients, 58 were male, the median age was 67, and 77 (86%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed in 21 (23%), and primary tumor resection was performed in 69 (77%) patients, including pneumonectomy in four, lobectomy in 39, and sublobar resection in 26. Epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement were detected in 33 (37%) and 4 (4%) cases, respectively. Among them, 31 patients received targeted therapy. The overall survival (OS) was not significantly different between patients with primary tumor resection and exploratory thoracotomy (5-year OS rate: 30.2% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.81). Multivariable analysis revealed that sex (p = 0.02) and targeted therapy (p < 0.01) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Survival outcomes in patients who received targeted therapy were significantly better regardless of primary tumor resection. Primary tumor resection might not affect the survival in NSCLC patients with unexpectedly detected pleural disseminated nodules in the era of targeted therapy.

Construction of a Cancer Stem Cell Marker Genes-Related 22-Gene Signature for Overall Survival Prediction in High-Risk Wilms’ Tumor

Background: This study aimed to investigate the comprehensive expression profile of cancer stem cell (CSC)-related genes and construct a prognostic signature for overall survival (OS) prediction in high-risk Wilms’ tumor (WT). Materials and methods: Gene expression and survival data from 120 high-risk WT cases in the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET)-WT were used. Results: In total, 229 CSC-related genes were found to be significantly dysregulated in WT compared to tumor-adjacent normal tissues, among which 34 were associated with OS. Using LASSO regression, a 22-gene signature was developed, which exhibited excellent performance in 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS predictions (AUC > 0.86). The high-risk score group showed markedly poorer OS compared to the low-risk score group (median separation, HR = 6.41, 95% CI: 3.18–12.92, p = 3.2e − 9). The 22-gene signature was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR = 5.086, 95% CI: 3.019–8.568, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study identified a robust prognostic signature that can effectively support OS prediction.

Prognostic value of sarcopenia and myosteatosis alterations on survival outcomes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before and after radiotherapy

ObjectiveWe assessed the impact and prognostic significance of alterations in muscle quality and quantity (myosteatosis and sarcopenia, respectively) in patients with esophageal cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT). MethodsWe retrospectively pooled 258 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer who underwent RT. Myosteatosis and sarcopenia were determined based on the skeletal muscle index derived from the muscle area and attenuation at the L3 level from computed tomography images. Subgroups were formed as 2 subgroups of non-sarcopenia/myosteatosis and sarcopenia/myosteatosis (with or without other muscle status) at either timepoint of RT, 3 subgroups of only-sarcopenia, only myosteatosis (without other muscle status), and the co-presence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis at either timepoint of RT, as well as 4 subgroups of continuous sarcopenia/myosteatosis, developed sarcopenia/myosteatosis, reduced sarcopenia/myosteatosis and non-sarcopenia/myosteatosis according to alterations of muscle status at both timepoints of RT. Overall survival (OS) was compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses based on Cox regression identified independent risk factors for prognosis. ResultsEither pre- or post-RT, patients with sarcopenia and myosteatosis (with or without other muscle status) had poor OS. Patients with only myosteatosis (without other muscle status) showed the best OS (1352 days pre-RT vs. 1648 days post-RT), while patients with concurrent myosteatosis and sarcopenia had the worst OS (907 days pre-RT vs. 706 days post-RT). The ascending order of OS for sarcopenia alterations was as follows: continuous sarcopenia (1093 days), non-sarcopenia (1740 days), developed sarcopenia (2187 days), and reduced sarcopenia (2208 days) (P = 0.002). The ascending order of OS for myosteatosis alterations was ranked as follows: continuous myosteatosis (1165 days), reduced myosteatosis (1275 days), developed myosteatosis (1783 days), and non-myosteatosis (1942 days) (P = 0.061). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that increased age, longer tumor length, developed myosteatosis, and continuous myosteatosis were independent prognostic factors for OS. ConclusionsMuscle mass status at presentation and alterations in patients with esophageal cancer before and after RT should be considered prognostic indicators.

Developing and validating a Modified Cachexia Index to predict the outcomes for colorectal cancer after radical surgery.

It was reported that the cachexia index (CXI: ) was an essential index for predicting the prognosis of tumor patients. However, since for SMI needs to be measured by CT imaging methods and its calculation was inconvenient. Thus, we developed a modified cachexia index (mCXI: ). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between mCXI and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. An analysis of 215 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer was carried out retrospectively. An optimal cut-off value of mCXI was established by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting prognosis. Prognostic implications of mCXI were investigated using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. A comparative assessment of the predictive capacity between mCXI and the CXI was performed using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis. Patients were classified into two groups based on the cut-off value of mCXI: the LOW mCXI group (n = 60) and the HIGH mCXI group (n = 155). The 3-year Overall survival (OS) (76.6% vs 96.7%, p < 0.01) and 3-year Recurrence-free survival (RFS) (68.3% vs 94.1%, p < 0.01) were significantly worse in the LOW mCXI group in contrast to that in the HIGH mCXI group. In Cox multivariate regression analysis, mCXI was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR = 8.951, 95%CI: 3.105-25.807, <0.01). Moreover, compared with CXI (AUC = 0.723), mCXI (AUC = 0.801) has better predictive efficacy, indicating that mCXI is more suitable for prognostic assessment. The mCXI significantly correlated with survival outcomes for colorectal cancer patients after radical surgery.

Rearrangements involving 11q23.3/KMT2A in adult AML: mutational landscape and prognostic implications – a HARMONY study

Balanced rearrangements involving the KMT2A gene (KMT2Ar) are recurrent genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but there is lack of consensus regarding the prognostic impact of different fusion partners. Moreover, prognostic implications of gene mutations co-occurring with KMT2Ar are not established. From the HARMONY AML database 205 KMT2Ar adult patients were selected, 185 of whom had mutational information by a panel-based next-generation sequencing analysis. Overall survival (OS) was similar across the different translocations, including t(9;11)(p21.3;q23.3)/KMT2A::MLLT3 (p = 0.756). However, independent prognostic factors for OS in intensively treated patients were age >60 years (HR 2.1, p = 0.001), secondary AML (HR 2.2, p = 0.043), DNMT3A-mut (HR 2.1, p = 0.047) and KRAS-mut (HR 2.0, p = 0.005). In the subset of patients with de novo AML < 60 years, KRAS and TP53 were the prognostically most relevant mutated genes, as patients with a mutation of any of those two genes had a lower complete remission rate (50% vs 86%, p < 0.001) and inferior OS (median 7 vs 30 months, p < 0.001). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission was able to improve OS (p = 0.003). Our study highlights the importance of the mutational patterns in adult KMT2Ar AML and provides new insights into more accurate prognostic stratification of these patients.

PSA doubling time 4.65 months as an optimal cut-off of Japanese nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

A multicenter study of nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) was conducted to identify the optimal cut-off value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (PSADT) that correlated with the prognosis in Japanese nmCRPC. Of the 515 patients diagnosed and treated for nmCRPC at 25 participating Japanese Urological Oncology Group centers, 450 patients with complete clinical information were included. The prognostic values of clinical factors were evaluated with respect to prostate specific antigen progression-free (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). The optimal cutoff value of PSADT was identified using survival tree analysis by Python. The Median PSA and PSADT at diagnosis of nmCRPC were 3.3 ng/ml, and 5.2 months, respectively. Patients treated with novel hormonal therapy (NHT) showed significantly longer PFS (HR: hazard ratio 0.38, p < 0.0001) and PFS2 (HR 0.45, p < 0.0001) than those treated with vintage nonsteroidal antiandrogen agent (Vintage). The survival tree identified 4.65 months as the most prognostic PSADT cutoff point. Among the clinical and pathological factors PSADT of < 4.65 months remained an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR 2.96, p = 0.0003) and CSS (HR 3.66, p < 0.0001). Current data represented optimal cut-off of PSADT 4.65 months for a Japanese nmCRPC.

Prognostic Value of the 18F-FDG PET/CT and Haematological Parameters in Head and Neck Cancer.

Fluorine 18-fluoro-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is commonly used for the staging of head and neck cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between 18F-FDG PET/CT, haematological parameters and prognosis in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. This was a single-institutional retrospective study of 83 patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before initial treatment between 2014 and 2018. 18F-FDG PET/CT after treatment was performed in 57 patients. The prognostic parameters of the pre- and post-treatment maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary tumours and haematological parameters were analysed to evaluate the association between overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pre-MTV, pre-TLG and post-SUVmax were significantly associated with poor OS and PFS (p < 0.05). Haematological parameters, including pretreatment neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, were associated with 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters. In multivariate analysis, post-SUVmax was an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. A correlation between PET/CT metabolic and haematological parameters was observed. The volume and intensity of 18F-FDG uptake region, in addition to haematological parameters, are feasible markers for predicting the progression of HNSCC in daily practice. Further, post-SUVmax could be an independent parameter for predicting poor survival.

Prognostic Significance of 18 F-FDG PET/CT Radiomics in Patients With Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Curative Surgery.

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of PET/CT radiomics to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We enrolled 627 patients with resectable PDAC who underwent preoperative 18 F-FDG PET/CT and subsequent curative surgery. Radiomics analysis of the PET/CT images for the primary tumor was performed using the Chang-Gung Image Texture Analysis toolbox. Radiomics features were subjected to least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to select the most valuable imaging features of OS. The prognostic significance was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Conventional PET parameters and LASSO score were assessed as predictive factors for OS by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. During a mean follow-up of 28.8 months, 378 patients (60.3%) died. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, tumor differentiation, resection margin status, tumor stage, and LASSO score were independent prognostic factors for OS (HR, 1.753, 1.669, 2.655, and 2.946; all P < 0.001, respectively). The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the LASSO score had better predictive performance for OS than conventional PET parameters. The LASSO score using the 18 F-FDG PET/CT radiomics of the primary tumor was the independent prognostic factor for predicting OS in patients with resectable PDAC and may be helpful in determining therapeutic and follow-up plans for these patients.

A novel inflammatory nutrient index for predicting survival outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most common contributors to cancer-related deaths worldwide. This study aimed to develop a new blood index on the basis of the patient's systemic inflammation and nutritional status, which can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pre-treatment blood markers were analyzed in 556 NSCLC patients from 2010 to 2019. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was used to select indicators to establish a new integrated biomarker (PNAGR). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the prognostic impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), albumin (ALB), and the PNAGR. The prognostic value was verified using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. We used four biomarkers including PLR, ALB, 1/albumin-to-globulin ratio (1/AGR), and neutrophil/albumin-to-globulin ratio (N/AGR) were used to screen for the PNAGR using LASSO. Patients with high PNAGR demonstrated lower overall survival (OS) compared to those with low PNAGR. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, PNAGR was revealed as an independent prognostic factor for OS. The predictive power of PNAGR [area under the curve (AUC): 0.753] was higher than that of the metrics alone. PNAGR is a novel and effective clinical prognostic tool with good clinical predictive value for NSCLC patients.

Tumor recurrence and survival prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer after radical resection with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Advanced gastric cancer is a common malignancy that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and is still at risk of recurrence after radical surgical treatment. Chemoradiotherapy, as one of the important treatment methods for gastric cancer, is of great significance for improving the survival rate of patients. However, the tumor recurrence and survival prognosis of gastric cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy are still uncertain. To analyze the tumor recurrence after radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer and provide more in-depth guidance for clinicians. A retrospective analysis was performed on 171 patients with gastric cancer who received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in our hospital from 2021 to 2023. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the recurrence rate and survival rate; the log-rank method was used to analyze the single-factor prognosis; and the Cox model was used to analyze the prognosis associated with multiple factors. The median follow-up time of the whole group was 63 months, and the follow-up rate was 93.6%. Stage II and III patients accounted for 31.0% and 66.7%, respectively. The incidences of Grade 3 and above acute gastrointestinal reactions and hematological adverse reactions were 8.8% and 9.9%, respectively. A total of 166 patients completed the entire chemoradiotherapy regimen, during which no adverse reaction-related deaths occurred. In terms of the recurrence pattern, 17 patients had local recurrence, 29 patients had distant metastasis, and 12 patients had peritoneal implantation metastasis. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83.7%, 66.3%, and 60.0%, respectively. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 75.5%, 62.7%, and 56.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage, peripheral nerve invasion, and the lymph node metastasis rate (LNR) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for gastric cancer treatment is well tolerated and has acceptable adverse effects, which is beneficial for local tumor control and can improve the long-term survival of patients. The LNR was an independent prognostic factor for OS. For patients with a high risk of local recurrence, postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation should be considered.

Short-term versus long-term metronomic adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A propensity score-matched real-world study

BackgroundThis retrospective study aimed to determine the optimal metronomic chemotherapy duration (MTCD) as adjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). MethodsThis study involved LANPC patients treated with metronomic chemotherapy (MTC) using a 5-FU prodrug (S1, capecitabine, or tegafur) from May 2013 to September 2020. The optimal MTCD threshold was established using X-tile Bioinformatics software. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) were compared between short-term and long-term groups using propensity score matching (PSM). ResultsA total of 546 patients were analyzed. MTCD was an independent prognostic factor for OS, PFS, and DMFS (all P < 0.05). Patients were categorized into long-term (>3 months) and short-term (≤3 months) MTCD groups. After a median follow-up of 48 months, significant differences were observed in 4-year OS (97.0 % vs. 87.1 %; P < 0.01), PFS (84.6 % vs. 70.9 %; P < 0.01), DMFS (87.3 % vs. 78.8 %; P < 0.01), and LRRFS (95.3 % vs. 87.4 %; P < 0.01) between the long-term and short-term groups. In the PSM-matched cohort of 196 patients per group, the long-term group demonstrated superior 4-year OS and LRRFS (97.3 % vs. 87.1 %, P < 0.01; 95.2 % vs. 90.0 %, P < 0.05). No significant differences in acute toxicities were observed between the groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionExtended MTC with a 5-FU prodrug (>3 months) may benefit NPC patients. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Impact of Novel Agents on Patient Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

The therapeutic landscape for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has changed dramatically with the introduction of several novel agents. However, limited data are available to determine whether the introduction of novel agents affected patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes compared with the period when these agents were not available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the introduction of novel mCRPC agents on patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes. Two cohorts of Japanese patients diagnosed with mCRPC between 2009 and 2014 (Epoch 1) and 2015 and 2019 (Epoch 2) were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 125 treatment-naïve mCRPC patients, consisting of 42 patients in Epoch 1 and 83 patients in Epoch 2, were evaluated. We obtained the following results: (i) a dramatic shift in the first-line treatment from docetaxel to androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARATs), (ii) an age range expansion for first-line treatment, and (iii) an overall survival (OS) advantage in Eopch 2 compared to Epoch 1. Multivariate analysis in the overall population showed that Epoch 2 and low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels at the start of first-line treatment were independent prognostic factors for OS. In real-world mCRPC practice, the introduction of novel agents has improved the prognosis of mCRPC while allowing more patients to receive mCRPC treatment across a broad age range. In addition, low PSA levels at the start of first-line treatment were associated with improved OS, indicating the importance of starting mCRPC treatment while PSA levels are low.

Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is the best biomarker for the overall survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

The inflammatory response and the nutritional status are associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it is unclear which biomarkers are better suited to predict prognosis. This study sought to determine which of the commonly existing inflammatory and nutritional indicators best predicted the OS. This study included 15 compound indicators based on inflammation or nutrition, with cutoff points obtained through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to evaluate the relationship between these predictors and OS. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis, and log-rank tests were used to compare differences between groups. The C-index was calculated to evaluate the predictive ability of the different indicators. The study included 899 patients with NSCLC. In the univariate analysis, all 15 measures were significantly associated with the OS of patients (all p < 0.05). The results of the C-index analysis showed that the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and the albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) were the three indices with the best predictive performance. Among them, FAR (C-index = 0.639) had the best predictive power for OS in patients with NSCLC. In the different subgroups, FAR had the highest C-index in male, non-smoking, adenocarcinoma, and stage II patients. The C-index of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in female patients was the highest. SII was the highest in smokers, in those aged <65 and ≥65 years, and in stage III patients. The C-index of AAPR was the highest in non-adenocarcinomas. The C-index of the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) was the highest in stage I patients. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, among FAR, SII, and AAPR, only FAR was an independent predictor of OS in patients with NSCLC. A high FAR was associated with a higher risk of death in patients with NSCLC (HR = 1.601, 95% CI = 1.028-2.495). In order to further evaluate the potential prognostic value of FAR, SII, and AAPR in patients with different stages, Cox regression analysis was performed for those with stage I-II and stage III NSCLC. The results showed that FAR was an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with stage I-II NSCLC. For all patients with NSCLC, the prognostic power of FAR was superior to that of other inflammatory and nutritional indicators.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Nationwide Observational Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study.

Based on the CheckMate 649 trial, nivolumab plus chemotherapy is the recommended first-line treatment for HER2-negative unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), or esophageal adenocarcinoma. This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study evaluated the real-world effectiveness of this regimen in Turkish patients and identified subgroups that may experience superior outcomes. Conducted across 16 oncology centers in Turkey, this study retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of adult patients diagnosed with HER2-negative unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric, GEJ, or esophageal adenocarcinoma from 2016 to 2023. This study included 111 patients (54 women, 57 men) with a median age of 58 years. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 11.7 months and 18.2 months, respectively, whereas the objective response rate (ORR) was 70.3%. Multivariable analyses revealed that previous curative surgery was a favorable independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Conversely, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 emerged as an adverse independent prognostic factor for OS. The safety profile of nivolumab plus chemotherapy was found to be manageable. Our findings support the use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of Turkish patients with HER2-negative unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric, GEJ, or esophageal adenocarcinoma. Patient selection based on clinical characteristics is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Development of a novel staging classification for Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Stage classification for Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been established. To investigate the optimal stage classification for Siewert II AEG with NAC. A nomogram was established based on Cox regression model that analyzed variables associated with overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The nomogram performance in terms of discrimination and calibration ability was evaluated using the likelihood-ratio test, Akaike information criterion, Harrell concordance index, time-receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis. Data from 725 patients with Siewert type II AEG who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and gastrectomy were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that sex, marital status, race, ypT stage, and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors of OS, whereas sex, race, ypT stage, and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors for DSS. These factors were incorporated into the OS and DSS nomograms. Our novel nomogram model performed better in terms of OS and DSS prediction compared to the 8th American Joint Committee of Cancer pathological staging system for esophageal and gastric cancer. Finally, a user-friendly web application was developed for clinical use. The nomogram established specifically for patients with Siewert type II AEG receiving NAC demonstrated good prognostic performance. Validation using external data is warranted before its widespread clinical application.

Prognostic models for mucinous and non-specific adeno cholangiocarcinoma: a population-based retrospective study.

Clinically, the diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma are generally different according to the location of occurrence, and the studies rarely consider the differences between different pathological types. Cholangiocarcinomas in large- and middle-sized intrahepatic bile ducts are mostly mucinous, while in small sized bile duct are not; mucinous extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are also more common than mucinous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, it is unclear whether these pathological type differences are related to the prognosis. Data of total 22509 patients was analyzed from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database out of which 22299 patients were diagnosed with common adeno cholangiocarcinoma while 210 were diagnosed with mucinous cholangiocarcinoma. Based on the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, between these two groups' clinical, demographic, and therapeutic features were contrasted. The data were analyzed using Cox and LASSO regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Ultimately, overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) related prognostic models were established and validated in test and external datasets and nomograms were created to forecast these patients' prognosis. There was no difference in prognosis between mucinous cholangiocarcinoma and adeno cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, we constructed prognostic model and nomogram that can be used for mucinous and adeno cholangiocarcinoma at the same time. By comparing the 9 independent key characteristics i.e. Age, tumor size, the number of primary tumors, AJCC stage, Grade, lymph node status, metastasis, surgery and chemotherapy, risk scores were calculated for each individual. By integrating these two pathological types in OS and CSS prognostic models, effective prognosis prediction results could be achieved in multiple datasets (OS: AUC 0.70-0.87; CSS: AUC 0.74-0.89). Age, tumor size, the number of primary tumors, AJCC stage, Grade, lymph node status, metastasis, surgery and chemotherapy are the independent prognostic factors in OS or CSS of the patients with mucinous and ordinary cholangiocarcinoma. Nomogram that can be used for mucinous and adeno cholangiocarcinoma at the same time is of significance in clinical practice and management of cholangiocarcinoma.

New T staging recommendations for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

ObjectiveThe International Union for Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) rT staging is not clinically practical for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC). The aim of this study was to establish a new rT staging to guide the treatment of rNPC.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 175 patients diagnosed with rNPC between January 2012 and December 2020, using ROC curve analysis to evaluate its effectiveness.ResultsWe analyzed the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival(PFS) of patients diagnosed with rNPC according to the 8th (UICC/AJCC) rT staging, and found that the overall survival of rT1 and rT2 patients (OS; 29.98% vs. 27.09%, p = 0.8059) and progression-free survival (PFS; 28.48% vs. 26.12%, p = 0.4045) had no significant difference. In rT1 and rT2 patients of this study, overall survival(OS; 30.44% vs. 24.91%, p = 0.0229) and progression-free survival(PFS 29.12% vs. 24.03%, p = 0.0459) had a significant difference. Smoking, family history, and time interval of initial recurrence were independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS.ConclusionThe new rT staging of this study has a better predictive value for survival of rNPC patients than the 8th (UICC/AJCC) rT staging.

The predictive value of delta-like3 and serum NSE in evaluating chemotherapy response and prognosis in patients with advanced small cell lung carcinoma: An observational study.

Lung cancer is one of the most malignant tumors with fastest morbidity and mortality. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most malignant pathological type of lung cancer with early metastasis and poor prognosis. At present, there is a lack of effective indicators to predict prognosis of SCLC patients. Delta-like 3 protein (DLL3) is selectively expressed on the surface of SCLC and is involved in proliferation and invasion. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is an enolase isoenzyme that is generally regarded as a biomarker for SCLC and may correlate with stage of SCLC, prognosis and chemotherapy response. NSE can be influenced by different types of factors. To explore the associations between expression levels of DLL3 in tumor tissues with platinum/etoposide chemotherapy response, and assess the prognostic values of DLL3, NSE and other potential prognostic factors in advanced SCLC patients were herein studied. Ninety-seven patients diagnosed with SCLC in Zhongda Hospital from 2014 to 2020 were enrolled in the study. Serum NSE levels were tested using ELISA methods before any treatment. The expression of DLL3 in tumor tissue was detected by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). We investigated the relationship of DLL3 expression with chemotherapy and survival. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazard regression was used to identify predictors of PFS and OS. DLL3 was detected in 84.5% (82/97) of all patients' tumor samples by IHC, mainly located on the surface of SCLC cells. Lower DLL3 expression was associated with longer PFS and better chemotherapy response. OS had no significant differences. Multivariate analysis by Cox Hazard model showed that, high DLL3 expression and maximum tumor size >5 cm were independent risk factors for PFS, where NSE < 35 ng/mL and age < 70 were independent prognostic factors for OS. Early stage was independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS (P < .05 log-rank). DLL3 was expressed in the most of SCLCs. DLL3 expression level in the tumor and NSE level in the serum may be useful biomarkers to predict the prognosis of SCLC. DLL3 may be a potential therapeutic target for SCLC in the future.

Construction of a novel nomogram for predicting overall survival in patients with Siewert type II AEG based on LODDS: a study based on the seer database and external validation.

In recent years, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has been rapidly increasing globally. Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of AEG, the overall prognosis for AEG patients remains concerning. Therefore, analyzing prognostic factors for AEG patients of Siewert type II and constructing a prognostic model for AEG patients is important. Data of primary Siewert type II AEG patients from the SEER database from 2004 to 2015 were obtained and randomly divided into training and internal validation cohort. Additionally, data of primary Siewert type II AEG patients from the China Medical University Dandong Central Hospital from 2012 to 2018 were collected for external validation. Each variable in the training set underwent univariate Cox analysis, and variables with statistical significance (p < 0.05) were added to the LASSO equation for feature selection. Multivariate Cox analysis was then conducted to determine the independent predictive factors. A nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) was developed, and its performance was evaluated using ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curves. NRI and IDI were calculated to assess the improvement of the new prediction model relative to TNM staging. Patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the risk scores from the nomogram. Age, Differentiation grade, T stage, M stage, and LODDS (Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes)were independent prognostic factors for OS. The AUC values of the ROC curves for the nomogram in the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set were all greater than 0.7 and higher than those of TNM staging alone. Calibration curves indicated consistency between the predicted and actual outcomes. Decision curve analysis showed moderate net benefit. The NRI and IDI values of the nomogram were greater than 0 in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets. Risk stratification based on the nomogram's risk score demonstrated significant differences in survival rates between the high-risk and low-risk groups. We developed and validated a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with Siewert type II AEG, which assists clinicians in accurately predicting mortality risk and recommending personalized treatment strategies.