Prognostic Factor For Overall Survival Research Articles

Reduced Risk of Severe Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia in Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Comparative Analysis of Carbon Versus Photon Therapy.

Radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancers. However, there are no reports comparing the effects of carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) and photon beam radiation therapy (RT) on the development of RIL. Differences in RIL after CIRT or photon beam RT and predictive factors for RIL in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer were investigated. This retrospective study cohort included 834 patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in 2 separate institutions: 337 and 497 in the CIRT and photon beam RT groups, respectively. Severe RIL was defined as an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) <0.5 × 109 cells/L. A 1:1 propensity score-matching analysis was performed between the CIRT and photon beam RT groups. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the development of recovery from severe RIL: no severe RIL (Group A), recovery from severe RIL (Group B), and no recovery from severe RIL (Group C). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictive value of severe RIL. The prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) were determined using Cox regression analysis. After propensity score matching, the baseline ALC and planning target volume of the CIRT and photon beam RT groups were comparable. During CCRT, the ALC of the entire cohort decreased and was significantly lower in the photon beam RT group than in the CIRT group (P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CIRT reduced severe RIL more than photon beam RT. After adjusting for other factors, the RT modality and RIL were significantly associated with OS. Photon beam RT showed a significantly worse OS than CIRT, and Group C showed a significantly worse OS than Group A. CIRT seems to reduce the development of severe RIL. The RT modality and development/recovery from severe RIL were associated with OS in patients who received CCRT for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The reduction of severe RIL through optimized RT may be essential for improving treatment outcomes.

Abstract PO5-02-12: Comparison of survival outcomes according to axillary ultrasonography findings and cytology results in early-stage breast cancer patients

Abstract Purpose: Axillary lymph node dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy are associated with increased risk of post-surgical complications including lymphedema and recent trials have raised questions about the therapeutic benefit of axillary operation in early-stage breast cancer patients. While treatment options for lymph nodes with negative findings on axillary ultrasonography (AUS) or positive findings on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are evident, data regarding lymph nodes that are suspicious on AUS but negative by FNAB are limited. Thus, we aimed to compare clinicopathological characteristics of AUS positive and FNAB negative patients with those of AUS negative or FNAB positive patients. Materials and Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between January 2010 and December 2017 were reviewed. Patients were grouped into the following three groups: (a) negative findings on AUS, (b) suspicious findings on AUS but negative on FNAB, (c) and FNAB positive. A total of 4,506 patients were included for analysis, with 3,771 patients with no suspicious lymph nodes on AUS, 557 patients who had suspicious AUS findings but were negative on FNAB, and 178 patients with positive findings on both AUS and FNAB. Primary endpoints were disease free survival (DFS) and recurrence free survival (RFS), and secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: At a median follow-up period of 92 months, DFS and RFS was significantly higher in the AUS negative group compared to the other two groups (10-year-DFS: 91.6% vs 87.5% vs 75.7%, 10-year-RFS: 95.0% vs 89.9% vs 77.1%, p &amp;lt; 0.001). In terms of OS, AUS negative group and the AUS positive and FNAB negative group did not show statistically significant survival difference (10-year-OS: 94.5% vs 92.8%, p = 0.061), while the FNAB positive group showed significantly lower survival rates (10-year-OS: 81.8%, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that not AUS positive and FANB negative but positive FNAB was significantly associated with poor RFS. Moreover, hormone receptor (HR) positive and HER2 negative subtype showed poor DFS and RFS in subgroup analysis. Conclusion: Early breast cancer patients with suspicious findings on AUS but negative FNAB results had similar OS but inferior DFS and RFS compared to those with negative features on AUS, especially in HR(+)HER2(-) subtype. While further prospective trials are warranted to determine whether additional treatment is necessary, close surveillance is recommended for this subgroup of patients. Figure1. Overall survial and Disease free survival according to axillay US and FNAB status Table1. patients' characteristics Table2. prognostic factors for overall survival and disease free survival related to axillary US and FNAB status Citation Format: Suk Jun Lee. Comparison of survival outcomes according to axillary ultrasonography findings and cytology results in early-stage breast cancer patients [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 PO5-02-12.

Abstract PO4-04-05: HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression in HER2-positive (HER2-pos) metastatic breast cancer (mBC): clinical and prognostic differences between IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ populations

Abstract Background: The exploration of heterogeneity in mBC has gained significant interest in optimizing therapeutic strategies. While the impact of differential HER2 IHC staining has been extensively studied in HER2-low neoplasms, limited data is available regarding IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ categories in HER2-pos mBC. The aim of our study is to compare, the clinical variables, metastatic patterns, and prognosis between patients classified as IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ in HER2-pos mBC. Methods: Pts with HER2 pos mBC, determined by HER2 IHC staining of 3+ or 2+ with amplification at the in situ hybridization assay, were selected from the GIM14 study database for analysis. Associations among variables were assessed by conducting logistic regression analyses. Additionally, prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) were evaluated using both uni- and multi-variable Cox regression models. Results: A total of 766 HER2-pos mBC pts were included in the analysis. Among them, 302 (39%) had IHC score of 2+ and 464 (61%) had a IHC score of 3+. Central nervous system (CSN) metastases (mts) were observed in 68 (9%) pts (32% IHC 2+; 68% IHC 3+), lymph node (LN) mts in 330 (43%) pts (46% IHC 2+; 54% IHC 3+), lung (LU) mts in 182 (24%) pts (46% IHC 2+; 54% IHC 3+), liver (LI) mts in 227 (30%) pts (45% IHC 2+, 55% IHC 3+), skin (SK) mts in 68 (9%) pts (28% IHC 2+; 72% IHC 3+) and pleural (PL) mts in 40 (5%) pts (47% IHC 2+, 53% IHC 3+). In univariable (uni) analysis, IHC 3+ compared to IHC 2+ was significantly associated with SK mts (OR 1.76, P=0.043) and less likely to be associated with LI (OR 0.71, P=0.031), LU (OR 0.70, P =0.036), and LN (OR 0.63, P=0.002) mts. In multivariable (multi) analysis, LN mts maintained statistical significance (OR 0.62, P=0.004). In subgroup analysis, among IHC 3+ patients, factors associated with worse OS pts were neo Tx (HR 1.55, P=0.032), adjuvant radiotherapy (HR 1.34, P=0.042), neo ChT (HR 1.63, P=0.002), CNS mts (HR 1.98, P=0.002), and LI mts (HR 1.68, P&amp;lt; 0.0001). In multi analysis, CNS mts (HR 1.73, P=0.028) and LI mts (HR 1.47, P=0.017) remained prognostic for IHC 3+ subgroup. The only factor associated with worse OS in IHC 2+ pts was LI mts (HR 1.67, P=0.005). Multi analysis in the overall HER2-pos population identified neo chemotherapy (ChT) (HR 1.49, P=0.009), CNS mts (HR 1.53, P=0.003) and PL mts (HR 1.50, P=0.036) as negative prognostic factors for OS, while PL mts (HR 1.74, P=0.048) were associated with a shorter time to treatment failure (TTF). Conclusions: Our exploratory data revealed that HER2-pos mBC with a IHC score of 3+ is less likely to be associated with LN mts and with visceral mts. The site of mts has prognostic significance, as CNS mts are associated with worse OS in pts with an IHC score of 3+ pts, while LI mts are associated with worse OS in both IHC 2+ and 3+ subgroups. However, the IHC score itself (2+ or 3+) does not have independent prognostic value. The relationship between HER2 IHC staining and treatment outcomes requires further investigation to better understand its potential impact on clinical practice. Citation Format: Arianna Dri, Eva Blondeaux, Claudia Bighin, Simona Gasparro, Stefania Russo, Lorenzo Foffano, Palma Pugliese, Andrea Fontana, Enrico Cortesi, Antonella Ferzi, Ferdinando Riccardi, Valentina Sini, Luca Boni, Alessandra Fabi, Filippo Montemurro, Michelino De Laurentiis, Grazia Arpino, Lucia Del Mastro, Lorenzo Gerratana, Fabio Puglisi. HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression in HER2-positive (HER2-pos) metastatic breast cancer (mBC): clinical and prognostic differences between IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ populations [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 PO4-04-05.

Abstract PO3-17-02: Analysis of clinical benefit in the real world of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer following the development of anti-HER2 therapeutics over the past 20 years

Abstract Analysis of clinical benefit in the real world of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer following the development of anti-HER2 therapeutics over the past 20 years Ahrong Ham1, Sewon Lee1, Jungmin Jo1, Soo Ji Hong2, Ji Eun Lee2, Haena Lee2, Sungchan Gwark2, Jeongshin An2, Hyun Goo Kim2, Jun Woo Lee2, Joohyun Woo2, Woosung Lim2, Byung-In Moon2, Sei Hyun Ahn2, Hye Ah Lee3, Kyoung Eun Lee1 1 Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2 Department of Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 3 Clinical Trial Center, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea Purpose: Over the last two decades, treatment landscapes for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have shown remarkable growth with the development of drugs targeting HER2. The standard of care for HER2+ MBC has continued to change with the ongoing development of new anti-HER2 therapies. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of HER2-targeted therapies, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes in real-world practice of HER2+ MBC patients over the past 20 years. Methods: Patients who received palliative chemotherapy with HER2+ MBC between 2000 and 2022 were analyzed. We derived cohorts of two groups with or without anti-HER2 containing therapies. Patients receiving multiple anti-HER2 therapies throughout the entire period of treatment were further analyzed according to treatment regimen. The progression-free survival for palliative first-line (PFS1), and overall survival (OS) were compared between groups. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to investigate predictors of survival outcome in HER2+ MBC. Results: A total of 185 patients were analyzed. Median age was 49 years (IQR, 42-56 years). 47 patients (25.4%) were initially diagnosed with de novo stage IV disease. Visceral metastases were found in 95 patients (51.4%). The median PFS1 was 3.9 months (without anti-HER2 therapy) versus 15.6 months (with anti-HER2 therapy) between two groups (P&amp;lt; 0.001). Likewise, the median OS was significantly improved in anti-HER2 therapy group (34.0 months vs. 70.5 months, P=0.010). As a result of confirming the difference in OS according to the type of anti-HER2 therapies during the entire period of treatment by correspondence analysis, significant improvement was found when two or three types of anti-HER2 were used (without anti-HER2 vs. 2 types of anti-HER2, P=0.009; without anti-HER2 vs. 3 types of anti-HER2, P=0.010). Interestingly, when analyzed by treatment regimen, trastuzumab (H) + pertuzumab (P), HP + TDM-1, and H + TDM-1 significantly improved OS over regimens without anti-HER2 (without anti-HER2 vs. HP, P=0.009; without anti-HER2 vs. HP + TDM-1, P=0.013; without anti-HER2 vs. H + TDM-1, P=0.028, respectively). HP + TDM-1 therapies significantly improved survival rate compared to H single containing regimen (P=0.029). Based on our multiple Cox regression model, visceral metastasis was a significant poor OS prognostic factor and two and three types of anti-HER2 therapies were associated better OS prognosis (visceral metastasis: HR=2.40, P=0.003; 2 types of ant-HER2: HR=0.29, P=0.001; 3 types of anti-HER2: HR=0.22, P=0.018, respectively). Conclusions: Anti-HER2 therapies significantly improved PFS1 and OS. Continuing treatment by changing anti-HER2 therapies may act as a better prognostic factor. Further prospective studies are required. Citation Format: Ahrong Ham, Sewon Lee, Jungmin Jo, Soo Ji Hong, Ji Eun Lee, Haena Lee, Sungchan Gwark, Jeongshin An, Hyun-Goo Kim, Jun Woo Lee, Joohyun Woo, Woosung Lim, Byung-In Moon, Sei Hyun Ahn, Hye Ah Lee, Kyoung Eun Lee. Analysis of clinical benefit in the real world of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer following the development of anti-HER2 therapeutics over the past 20 years [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 PO3-17-02.

The therapeutic effect and targets of herba Sarcandrae on breast cancer and the construction of a prognostic signature consisting of inflammation-related genes

BackgroundThe prevalence of breast cancer (BRCA), which is common among women, is on the rise. This study applied network pharmacology to explore the potential mechanism of action of herba sarcandrae in BRCA and construct a prognostic signature composed of inflammation-related genes. MethodsThe active ingredients of herba sarcandrae were screened using the SymMap, TCMID, and TCMSP platforms, and the molecular targets were determined in the UniProt database. The “drug-active compound-potential target” network was established with Cytoscape 3.7.2. The molecular targets were subjected to disease ontology, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses. AutoDock software was used for molecular docking. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to inflammation were obtained from the BRCA Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In the training cohort, the univariate Cox regression model was applied to preliminarily screen prognostic genes. A multigene signature was built by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model, followed by validation through Kaplan‒Meier, Cox, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. ResultsForty-one active compounds were identified, and 265 therapeutic targets for herba sarcandrae were predicted. GO enrichment results revealed significant enrichment of biological processes, such as response to xenobiotic stimuli, response to nutrient levels, and response to lipopolysaccharide. KEGG analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways such as AGE-RAGE and chemical carcinogenesis receptor activation signaling pathways. In addition, the herbs Marc-Andre and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway. Sixteen inflammatory signatures, including BST2, GPR132, IL12B, IL18, IL1R1, IL2RB, IRF1, and others, were constructed, and the risk score was found to be a strong independent prognostic factor for overall survival in BRCA patients. The 16-inflammation signature was associated with several clinical features (age, clinical stage, T, and N classifications) and could reflect immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironments with different immune cells. ConclusionsHerba sarcandrae and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the IRF1/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway, and the 16-member inflammatory signature might be a novel biomarker for predicting BRCA patient prognosis, providing more accurate guidance for clinical treatment prognosis evaluation and having important reference value for individualized treatment selection.

Prognostic factors and novel prediction models for overall survival of patients with submandibular gland cancer: A population-based retrospective cohort study

BackgroundAccurately predicting the survival rate of submandibular gland cancer (SGC) is of significant importance for guiding treatment decision-making and improving patient outcomes. This study was aimed to identify the independent prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in SGC patients, and develop novel prediction models to aid clinicians in predicting the survival probability. Materials and methodsPatients diagnosed with primary SGC after the year 2010 were extracted from SEER database and then randomly allocated into training and test samples in a 7:3 ratio. Uni- and multi-variable COX analyses were employed using the training sample to ascertain independent prognostic factors for OS. Subsequently, graphic and online dynamic nomograms were established basing on the independent prognostic factors. We utilized C-index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under ROC curve (AUC) value to evaluate the discrimination capacity and the consistency between predicted and actual survival. ResultsA total of 527 SGC patients were included (369 assigned to training group and 158 assigned to test group). The multivariable COX analysis showed that age, sex, marital status, tumor histology, summary stage, metastases to bone, and tumor size were independently associated with OS. Novel graphical and online dynamic (URL: https://yangxg1209.shinyapps.io/overall_survival_submandibular_gland_tumor/) nomograms were established. The C-indices (training: 0.77, 95%CI 0.71–0.84; test: 0.77, 95%CI 0.68–0.85) indicate favorable discrimination ability of the model, and the calibration curves demonstrated favorable consistency between the predicted and actual survival rates. ConclusionsOur study identified the independent prognostic factors influencing OS in patients with SGC, and successfully established and validated novel nomograms, which provide accurate prediction of survival rates and allows for personalized risk assessment.

Keratin 6A Is Expressed at the Invasive Front and Enhances the Progression of Colorectal Cancer

Keratins (KRTs) are intermediate filament proteins in epithelial cells, and they are important for cytoskeletal organization. KRT6A, classified as a type II KRT, is normally expressed in stratified squamous epithelium and squamous cell carcinomas. Little is known about the expression and role of KRT6A in adenocarcinomas. We investigated the clinicopathologic and molecular biological significance of KRT6A in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Immunostaining of colorectal adenocarcinoma cases treated at our institution demonstrated that KRT6A showed significantly stronger expression at the invasive front than that at the tumor center (P < .0001). The high KRT6A–expression cases (n = 47) tended to have a high budding grade associated with significantly worse prognoses. A multivariate analysis revealed that the KRT6A expression status was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P = .0004), disease-specific survival (P = .0097), and progression-free survival (P = .0033). The correlation between KRT6A and patient prognoses was also validated in an external cohort from a published data set. To determine the function of KRT6A in vitro, KRT6A was overexpressed in 3 colon cancer cell lines: DLD-1, SW620, and HCT 116. KRT6A overexpression increased migration and invasion in DLD-1 but did not in SW620 and HCT116. In 3-dimensional sphere-forming culture, KRT6A expression enhanced the irregular protrusion around the spheroid in DLD-1. Our findings in this study indicated that KRT6A expression is a valuable prognostic marker of colorectal cancer and KRT6A may be involved the molecular mechanism in the progression of invasive areas of colorectal cancer.

Comparative analysis of liver resection in Non-B Non-C and hepatitis virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundThe incidence of non-hepatitis B and non-hepatitis C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC) is increasing in our country. This study assesses the feasibility of employing an identical surgical treatment strategy for resectable NBNC-HCC as that for hepatitis virus-associated HCC (HV-HCC). MethodsA retrospective analysis (1993–2023) of 1321 curative liver resections for HCC at a single institution was performed. Propensity score matching ensured a balanced comparison of preoperative clinical factors, including tumor status and background liver condition. ResultsThe proportion of NBNC-HCC cases has gradually increased, reaching up to 70 %. After matching, 294 of 473 NBNC-HCC patients and 294 of 848 HV-HCC patients were compared. Operative outcomes, including operation time, blood loss, type of surgical procedure, and morbidity, were comparable. Long-term outcome analysis showed similar recurrence-free survival (HR: 0.86, 95 % CI: 0.70–1.06, P = 0.167) and overall survival (HR: 0.98, 95 % CI: 0.79–1.23, P = 0.865) for NBNC-HCC. Multivariable analysis identified ICGR15 ≥ 15 %, ALBI grade 2 or 3, aspartate aminotransferase ≥40, tumor size > 5 cm, multiple tumors, macrovascular invasion, and microvascular invasion as independent prognostic factors for overall survival, while hepatitis B or C virus status lost significance. ConclusionsDespite the increasing incidence of NBNC-HCC, comparable outcomes were achieved between the two groups of matched cohort.

The Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Indices Are Independent Prognostic Factors for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

Recently, the prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was developed and reported to be a promising nutritional and inflammatory prognostic marker. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical impact of the PINI for esophageal cancer patients who received curative treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and collected data on consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020. The PINI was calculated by dividing the serum ALB concentration (g/dl) by the serum monocyte concentration, both of which were measured before surgery. A total of 180 patients were included in this study. The cutoff value of the PINI was 3.0 in the present study. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 45.2% and 33.5%, respectively, in the PINI-low subgroup, and 69.1% and 61.8%, respectively, in the PINI-high subgroup. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the PINI was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=2.091, 95% confidence interval=1.287-3.399, p=0.003). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. When comparing the sites of recurrence between the two groups, the incidence of hematological recurrence was significantly greater in the PINI-low subgroup compared to the PINI-high subgroup (46.8% vs. 21.1%, p<0.001). The PINI is a promising nutritional and inflammatory marker for esophageal cancer patients. The PINI might be a useful marker for the treatment and management of esophageal cancer patients.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes between Radical Antegrade Modular Pancreatosplenectomy and Conventional Distal Pancreatosplenectomy for Pancreatic Body and Tail Cancer: Korean Multicenter Propensity Score Match Analysis.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to compare the survival benefit of radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) with conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy (cDPS) in left-sided pancreatic cancer. (2) Methods: A retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted on 333 patients who underwent RAMPS or cDPS for left-sided pancreatic cancer at four tertiary cancer centers. The study assessed prognostic factors and compared survival and operative outcomes. (3) Results: After PSM, 99 patients were matched in each group. RAMPS resulted in a higher retrieved lymph node count than cDPS (15.0 vs. 10.0, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of R0 resection rate, blood loss, hospital stay, or morbidity. The 5-year overall survival rate was similar in both groups (cDPS vs. RAMPS, 44.4% vs. 45.2%, p = 0.853), and disease-free survival was also comparable. Multivariate analysis revealed that ASA score, preoperative CA19-9, histologic differentiation, R1 resection, adjuvant treatment, and lymphovascular invasion were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Preoperative CA19-9, histologic differentiation, T-stage, adjuvant treatment, and lymphovascular invasion were independent significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. (4) Conclusions: Although RAMPS resulted in a higher retrieved lymph node count, survival outcomes were not different between the two groups. RAMPS was a surgical option to achieve R0 resection rather than a standard procedure.

Genomic Landscape and Clinical Features of Advanced Thyroid Carcinoma: A National Database Study in Japan

Abstract Context The relationship between the genomic profile and prognosis of advanced thyroid carcinoma requiring drug therapy has not been reported. Objective To evaluate the treatment period and overall survival time for each genetic alteration in advanced thyroid carcinoma that requires drug therapy. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study using a national database in Japan, which included 552 cases of thyroid carcinoma out of 53 543 patients in the database. Results The database included anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (23.6%), poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (10.0%), and differentiated thyroid carcinoma (66.4%). The most common genetic abnormalities were TERT promoter (66.3%), BRAF (56.7%), and TP53 (32.2%). The typical driver genes were BRAF V600E (55.0%), RAS (18.5%), RET fusion (4.7%), NTRK fusion (1.6%), and ALK fusion (0.4%). The most common regimen was lenvatinib, and the time to treatment failure was not different despite the presence of BRAF or RAS mutations. In differentiated thyroid carcinoma and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, TP53 alterations independently predicted worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.205, 95% confidence interval: 1.135-4.283). In anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, no genetic alterations were associated with overall survival. Conclusion Genetic abnormalities with treatment options were found in 62.7% of advanced thyroid carcinomas. TP53 abnormality was an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The time to treatment failure for lenvatinib was not different based on genetic profile.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage 1 colon cancer: Patient characteristics and survival analysis from the national cancer database

BackgroundA subset of patients in ACS-NCDB with stage-1 colon cancer received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), in contrast to national guidelines. This study aimed to define this population and evaluate associations between AC and survival. MethodsPatients with T1-2N0 colon cancer from 2004 to 2016 were separated into AC and non-AC groups. Adverse pathological features (APF) included T2, poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, positive margin, and inadequate lymph nodes (<12). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). ResultsA total of 1745 of 139,857 patients (1.2 %) received AC. Receiving AC was associated with male sex (p = 0.02), uninsured (p < 0.01), low income (p = 0.02), or having ≥2 APFs (p < 0.001). In the total cohort, AC was associated with increased mortality (HR 1.14 [1.04–1.24] P < 0.01). On subset analysis, AC was associated with improved OS for patients with ≥2 APFs (log-rank P=<0.001), and decreased mortality when adjusted for covariates (HR 0.81 [0.69–0.95] P=<0.01). The most significant predictor of mortality was old age (HR 3.78 [3.67, 3.89] p ≤ 0.01), followed by higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR 1.73 [1.69, 1.76] (p ≤ 0.01), and higher APF score (HR 1.46 [1.42, 15.2] p ≤ 0.01). ConclusionAC was associated with decreased survival in the total cohort of stage 1 colon cancer patients, but was associated with improved survival for patients with multiple APFs.

Retrospective Long-Term Evaluation of Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma over 20 Years.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma over 20 years regarding overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors for OS. During the period from 1996 to 2016, 836 patients with HCC were treated with cTACE. Data evaluation was performed on the basis of pre- and postinterventional MRI and CT scans. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier estimator; prognostic factors were determined by the use of Cox regression analysis. Overall, 4084 (mean 4.89 TACE sessions/patient) procedures were assessed. Median OS was 700 days (99% CI, 632.8-767.2). Depending on the indication, patients treated with a neoadjuvant intention showed the best OS (1229 days, 99% CI 983.8-1474.2) followed by curative intention (787 days, 99% CI 696.3-877.7), and then palliative intention (360 days, 99% CI 328.4-391.6). Portal vein thrombosis (HR 2.19, CI 1.63-2.96, and p < 0.01) and Child-Pugh class B or worse (HR 1.44, CI 1.11-1.86, and p < 0.001) were significantly associated with shorter OS. Patients with HCC benefit from TACE after careful patient selection. Portal vein thrombosis and Child-Pugh class B or worse are significantly unfavorable prognostic factors for patients' survival.

Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT versus bone marrow biopsy and aspiration in pediatric neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most prevalent solid extracranial malignancy in children, often with bone marrow metastases (BMM) are present. The conventional approach for detecting BMM is bone marrow biopsy and aspiration (BMBA). 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) has become a staple for staging and is also capable of evaluating marrow infiltration. The consensus on the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessing BMM in NB patients is still under deliberation. This retrospective study enrolled 266 pediatric patients with pathologically proven NB. All patients had pretherapy FDG PET/CT. BMBA, clinical, radiological, and follow-up data were also collected. The diagnostic accuracy of BMBA and 18F-FDG PET/CT was assessed. BMBAs identified BMM in 96 cases (36.1%), while 18F-FDG PET/CT detected BMI in 106 cases (39.8%) within the cohort. The initial sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 18F-FDG PET/CT were 93.8%, 84.9%, 90.6%, and 96.3%, respectively. After treatment, these values were 92.3%, 70.6%, 97.3%, and 99.4%, respectively. The kappa statistic, which measures agreement between BMBA and 18F-FDG PET/CT, was 0.825 before treatment and 0.784 after treatment, with both values indicating a substantial agreement (P = 0.000). Additionally, the amplification of MYCN and a positive initial PET/CT scan were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). 18F-FDG-PET/CT is a valuable method for evaluating BMM in NB. The routine practice of performing a BMBA without discrimination may need to be reassessed. Negative result from 18F-FDG-PET/CT could potentially spare children with invasive bone marrow biopsies.

Impact of preoperative haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score on oral cancer prognosis.

To evaluate the preoperative haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score as a prognostic indicator in oral squamous cell carcinoma treated by radical surgery. Patients (83 men, 32 women; 65.80 ± 11.47 years) who underwent radical surgery between 2012 and 2022 were included. Factors affecting overall survival and disease-free survival according to the haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score were examined. Patients were categorised into low- and high-score groups using optimal cut-off values obtained from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The low-score group had poorer overall and disease-free survival (p < 0.001 each). Multivariate analysis identified alcohol consumption (hazard ratio [HR], 3.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56-9.41, p = 0.003); vascular invasion (HR, 3.97; 95% CI: 1.60-9.85, p = 0.003); and the haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score (HR, 0.39; 95% CI: 0.20-0.78, p = 0.007) as independent prognostic factors for overall survival and vascular (HR, 3.66; 95% CI: 1.79-7.50, p < 0.001) and lymphovascular (HR, 2.44; 95% CI: 1.36-4.41, p = 0.003) invasion as independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. The preoperative haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score may be a significant prognostic factor for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical surgery.

Oncological and functional outcome after laryngectomy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: a population-based analysis in Germany from 2001 to 2020

Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) dependency, and long-term speech rehabilitation via voice prosthesis (VP) after laryngectomy for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer were investigated in a retrospective population-based study in Thuringia, Germany. A total of 617 patients (68.7% larynx; hypopharynx; 31.3%; 93.7% men; median age 62 years; 66.0% stage IV) from 2001 to 2020 were included. Kaplan–Meier and Cox multivariable regression analyses were performed. 23.7% of patients received a PEG. 74.7% received a VP. Median OS was 131 months. Independent factors for lower OS were stage IV (compared to stage II; hazard ratio [HR] = 3.455; confidence interval [CI] 1.395–8.556) and laryngectomy for a recurrent disease (HR = 1.550; CI 1.078–2.228). Median time to PEG removal was 7 months. Prior partial surgery before laryngectomy showed a tendency for independent association for later PEG removal (HR = 1.959; CI 0.921–4.167). Postoperative aspiration needing treatment was an independent risk factor (HR = 2.679; CI 1.001–7.167) for later definitive VP removal. Laryngectomy continuously plays an important role in a curative daily routine treatment setting of advanced laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer in Germany. Long-term dependency on nutrition via PEG is an important issue, whereas use of VP is a stable long-term measure for voice rehabilitation.

A Retrospective Study of 291 Patients With Head and Neck Sarcomas: Treatment, Outcomes, and Prognostic Factors

AimsSarcomas constitute a group of rare malignant neoplasms, commonly subcategorized into soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas. This study aims to describe the treatment modalities and outcome of head and neck sarcoma (HNS) patients in western Denmark and to identify prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence in HNS patients. Materials and methodsThe Aarhus sarcoma registry, The National Danish Sarcoma Database, and the Danish National Pathology Registry were used to identify HNS adult patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2022. ResultsAltogether, 291 patients were included in this study. The prevalent histological subtypes were undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (16%; 48/291) and leiomyosarcoma (15%; 44/291) for STS patients (n = 230) and chondrosarcoma (10%; 28/291) and osteosarcoma (7%; 19/291) for bone sarcoma patients (n = 61). Surgery with curative intent was performed in 71% (164/230) and 70% (43/61) of STS and bone sarcoma patients, respectively. Clear resection was achieved in 59% (97/164) of STS patients and 44% (19/43) of bone sarcoma patients. Eighty-nine patients relapsed (STS n = 66, bone sarcoma n = 23) after a median time of 2.7/5.5 years for STS/bone sarcoma patients. The five-year overall survival rates were 45% for STS patients and 66% for bone sarcoma patients.The following factors were significantly, negatively associated with overall survival in STS patients: Age (hazard ratio (HR)) = 1.02, p < 0.001), tumour size ≥5 cm (HR = 1.75, p = 0.003), metastatic disease (HR = 3.17, p < 0.001), high grade tumour (HR = 2.24, p = 0.004), previous cancer (HR = 2.84, p < 0.001), and high Aarhus composite biomarker score (ACBS) (HR = 4.56, p = 0.001). For relapse in STS patients, higher tumour grade (HR = 3.19, p = 0.014), intralesional margins (HR = 2.84, p < 0.001), ≥2 previous cancers (HR = 3.00, p = 0.004), and high ACBS (HR = 3.29, p = 0.047), were negatively associated. For bone sarcomas only higher age (HR = 1.02, p = 0.049) and intralesional margins (HR = 2.91, p = 0.042) were significant negative factors for overall survival. ConclusionMultiple prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse were identified, especially for STS patients.

Lipid Profiles Impact on the Oncologic Outcome of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

The prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) varies, with T3/T4 UTUC having less than 50% 5-year survival post-radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Lipid profiles including cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) have shown correlations with oncologic outcomes in various cancers. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the lipid profiles in UTUC patients who had received RNU. In this retrospective study, a total of 217 UTUC patients who underwent RNU were analyzed. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression model and competing risk analysis. The median follow-up duration was 2.36 years. Fifty-one (23.50%) of the patients experienced tumor progression, 16 (7.37%) died from UTUC, and 41 (18.89%) died from all causes during the follow-up period. Multivariate analysis revealed that elevated CHOL, low HDL, and elevated TG were linked to worse OS (P = 0.0188, 0.0002, and 0.0001, respectively). Higher CHOL, LDL, and TG, as well as lower HDL significantly affected PFS (P < 0.001 for all), and elevated CHOL and TG were associated with poorer CSS (P = 0.0033 and 0.0179). A competing risk model indicated that elevated LDL increased the risk of cancer progression (P = 0.407), with CHOL increasing the risk of UTUC-specific mortality (P = 0.0162). Limitations include retrospective design, limited, single-time sampling and relatively small sample size. Lipid profiles were identified as prognostic indicators for UTUC patients post-RNU. It highlights the potential importance of lipid management in improving tumor-related outcomes.

Identification and validation of a novel anoikis-related prognostic model for prostate cancer.

Anoikis resistance is a hallmark characteristic of oncogenic transformation, which is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to identify and validate a novel anoikis-related prognostic model for prostate cancer (PCa). We collected a gene expression profile, single nucleotide polymorphism mutation and copy number variation (CNV) data of 495 PCa patients from the TCGA database and 140 PCa samples from the MSKCC dataset. We extracted 434 anoikis-related genes and unsupervised consensus cluster analysis was used to identify molecular subtypes. The immune infiltration, molecular function, and genome alteration of subtypes were evaluated. A risk signature was developed using Cox regression analysis and validated with the MSKCC dataset. We also identify potential drugs for high-risk group patients. Two subtypes were identified. C1 exhibited a higher level of CNV amplification, immune score, stromal score, aneuploidy score, homologous recombination deficiency, intratumor heterogeneity, single-nucleotide variant neoantigens, and tumor mutational burden compared to C2. C2 showed a better survival outcome and had a high level of gamma delta T cell and activated B cell infiltration. The risk signature consisting of four genes (HELLS, ZWINT, ABCC5, and TPSB2) was developed (area under the curve = 0.780) and was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in PCa patients. Four CTRP-derived and four PRISM-derived compounds were identified for high-risk patients. The anoikis-related prognostic model developed in this study could be a useful tool for clinical decision-making. This study may provide a new perspective for the treatment of anoikis-related PCa.

Clinical feasibility of the preoperative C-reactive protein–albumin–lymphocyte index to predict short- and long-term outcomes of patients with gastric cancer

BackgroundGastric cancer (GC) is a major leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Systemic inflammation and the nutrition-based score are feasible prognostic markers for malignancies. Emerging evidence has also revealed the C-reactive protein–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index to be a prognostic marker for several cancer types. However, its clinical significance to predict surgical and oncologic outcomes of patients with GC remains unclear. MethodsWe assessed the preoperative CALLY index in 426 patients with GC who received gastrectomy. ResultsA low preoperative CALLY index was significantly correlated to all well-established clinicopathologic factors for disease development, including an advanced T stage, the presence of venous invasion, lymphatic vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and an advanced TNM stage. A low preoperative CALLY index was also an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.64; 95 % CI, 1.66–4.2; P < .0001) and disease-free survival (HR, 1.76; 95 % CI, 1.01–3.05; P = .045). In addition, a low preoperative CALLY index was an independent predictive factor for postoperative surgical site infection (odds ratio, 2.64; 95 % CI, 1.42–4.89; P = .002). ConclusionThe preoperative CALLY index is valuable for perioperative and oncologic management of patients with GC.