Significant Prognostic Factors For Overall Survival Research Articles

Prognostic impact of peritoneal cytology on treating endometrial cancer using data from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology cancer registry.

The prognostic value and clinical usage of peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer are uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether positive cytology is associated with the prognosis for endometrial cancer. A Japanese nationwide retrospective registry study was conducted between 2012 and 2019. Clinicopathological data were analyzed for patients who were registered in the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) gynecological tumor registry and underwent initial treatment for endometrial cancer. In total, 83,027 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Data on peritoneal cytology status and overall survival (OS) were available for 74,984 and 36,995 patients, respectively. Positive peritoneal cytology was found in 11,536 (15.4%) patients. A higher proportion of patients who had positive peritoneal cytology were related to advanced stages, high-grade histology, deep myometrial invasion, lymph node (LN) metastasis, and poor risk of recurrence. After controlling for age, stage, myometrial invasion, LN metastasis, distant metastasis, and risk of recurrence, positive peritoneal cytology was associated with poor prognosis (p<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that clinicopathological factors (i.e., age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, histological type, myometrial invasion, LN metastasis, distant metastasis, and peritoneal cytology), including positive peritoneal cytology, were also significant prognostic factors for OS. Positive peritoneal cytology was a prognostic factor for endometrial cancer for the JSOG gynecological tumor registry.

The Prognostic Value of Preoperative Total Cholesterol in Surgically Treated Oral Cavity Cancer.

With growing evidence linking lipid profile changes to tumor development and cancer prognosis, we investigated the prognostic significance of preoperative serum total cholesterol (TC) levels in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing surgical treatment. We conducted a retrospective observational study involving 310 patients with primary OSCC who received surgery at our hospital from January 2009 to December 2018. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal preoperative TC cutoff value, with the Youden Index employed as the optimization criterion to maximize the sum of sensitivity and specificity. Variables with p < 0.1 in the univariable analysis were included in the multivariable Cox regression model, and stepwise selection was used to identify the optimal subset of prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). An optimal TC cutoff of 157 mg/dL was established. Patients with TC < 157 mg/dL exhibited significantly lower 5-year rates of OS and DFS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). Multivariable analysis confirmed that TC < 157 mg/dL represented an independent prognostic factor for reduced OS and DFS rates. Subgroup analyses reinforced the consistent prognostic significance of TC. We also constructed a nomogram (concordance index: 0.74) to provide personalized OS predictions, enhancing the clinical utility of TC. Preoperative TC appears to be a significant prognostic factor for OS and DFS after OSCC surgery. Routine TC assessment facilitates the development of nomograms for personalized survival predictions, supports clinicians in tailoring treatment strategies, and guides nutritional or metabolic interventions to enhance patient outcomes. Further multicenter prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

The prognostic value of visceral pleural infiltration in ≤3cm nonsmall cell lung cancer presenting with ground glass opacity: an inverse probability of treatment weighting study.

Visceral pleural infiltration (VPI) has been identified as an important risk factor in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for many decades. However, for patients who present with ground glass opacity (GGO), the prognostic value of VPI is still elusive. The authors aimed to investigate whether the VPI is a significant prognostic factor in surgically resected ≤3cm stage I NSCLC, who presented with GGO. Patients with primary NSCLC who underwent surgical resection between December 2009 and December 2018 were collected. Stage I tumors that presented as GGO nodules with a tumor size of less than 3cm were included and divided into two groups based on VPI status (positive and negative). Clinical, pathological, and prognostic data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance baseline characteristics. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 2043 patients were included in this study (VPIs were found in 196 patients). After IPTW weighting, all factors between the two groups were balanced. The median follow-up time was 67.3 months. According to the multivariable Cox models, the VPI was not a significant prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.00, 95% CI: 0.96-4.17; P =0.063), but was significant for RFS (HR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.12-3.55; P =0.019). In subgroup analysis, we found VPI was significant for OS (HR=3.17, 95% CI: 1.09-9.26, P =0.035) and RFS (HR=4.07, 95% CI: 1.76-9.40, P =0.001) in patients with a tumor size >1cm and a consolidation to tumor ratio (CTR) >50%. For patients with a tumor size ≤1cm or a CTR ≤50%, the VPI was not significant. VPI may be a significant risk factor for GGOs in NSCLC patients with a tumor size >1cm and a CTR >50%. Further prospective studies conducted across multicenters with a larger sample size are needed.

Multicenter Study on Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation for Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Primary versus Recurrent HCC.

To evaluate the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for both primary and recurrent early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze the significant prognostic factors. Data from patients with early-stage primary or recurrent HCC who underwent TACE plus RFA between August 2019 and May 2024 were collected from three major general hospitals. 158 patients were divided into a primary group and a recurrent group on the basis of their baseline characteristics. Compared the objective response rate (ORR), 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates, 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates, and complication rate between the two groups. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the factors influencing PFS and OS. One hundred fifty-eight patients were enrolled. The ORRs of the primary and recurrent groups were 98.2% and 95.1%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (χ2= 2.032, Ρ = 0.362). The primary group having a significantly longer PFS time than the recurrent group (Ρ < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates between the two groups (Ρ = 0.218). Multivariate analysis revealed that primary or recurrent HCC and the Child‒Pugh score were significant prognostic factors for PFS, whereas the serum albumin level was a significant prognostic factor for OS. TACE plus RFA has similar clinical efficacy and safety for both primary and recurrent early HCC. Compared with patients with primary HCC, those with recurrent disease had significantly shorter PFS times.

Prognostic efficacy of lymph node parameters in resected ampullary adenocarcinoma based on long-term follow-up data after adjuvant treatment

BackgroundLymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic factor in the ampulla of Vater (AoV) adenocarcinoma. Various LN parameters have been proposed, but their prognostic efficacy has not been compared in the same population. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic values of LN parameters in AoV adenocarcinoma patients who underwent surgical resection and adjuvant treatment based on the long-term follow-up data.MethodsA total of 86 patients with surgically resected AoV adenocarcinoma followed by adjuvant treatment were analyzed. We evaluated the prognostic values of various LN parameters such as pathologic N stage, number of metastatic regional LN (LNN), LN ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive LNs (LODDS). Each LN parameter was separately analyzed using Cox regression models with the same confounders.ResultsThe median follow-up period was 69.4 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 114 months. The median number of dissected LNs is 15, with an interquartile range of 8 to 25. In the univariable analyses, all LN parameters showed significant prognostic efficacy for OS, disease-free survival (DFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, LNN ≥ 2 was a statistically significant prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–3.97; p = 0.022), DFS (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.28–4.93; p = 0.007), and DMFS (HR 2.74, 95% CI 1.39–5.41; p = 0.004). LNR showed significant prognostic performance for DFS (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.23–4.50; p = 0.010), and DMFS (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.17–4.35; p = 0.015). N stage showed significant prognostic performance in DFS (HR 1.55 for pN1; p = 0.243 and HR 4.31 for pN2; p = 0.003), DMFS (HR 1.46 for pN1; p = 0.323 and 4.59 for pN2; p = 0.002). LODDS and the presence of LN metastasis, did not demonstrate significant prognostic value across survival outcomes.ConclusionsLN parameters showed good long-term predictive performance in AoV adenocarcinoma patients treated with curative resection and adjuvant treatments. Among LN parameters, LNN ≥ 2 showed better prognostic value than others. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate the clinical usefulness of various LN parameters.

Inflammatory Burden Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

We hypothesized that the inflammatory burden index (IBI) is a promising biomarker for esophageal cancer (EC) treatment and management. To confirm our hypothesis, we evaluated the prognostic impact of IBI in patients with EC who received curative treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and collected data from consecutive patients with EC who underwent curative resection at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020. The IBI score was calculated as the C-reactive protein level multiplied by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. In total, 180 patients with EC were included in this study. The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 72.9% and 63.4%, respectively, in the IBI-low group, and 38.2% and 32.5% in the IBI-high group (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, IBI was identified as a significant prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=2.372; 95% confidence interval CI=1.478-3.806, p<0.001]. In addition, the 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 52.9% and 47.8%, respectively, in the IBI-low group, and 22.9% and 17.2% in the IBI-high group (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, IBI was identified as a significant prognostic factor for RFS (HR=2.484; 95%CI=1.373-4.494, p<0.001). When comparing the recurrence patterns between the IBI-high and IBI-low groups, there were significant differences in lymph node recurrence (46.0% vs. 26.2%, p=0.010) and hematological recurrence (52.0% vs. 18.5%, p<0.001). IBI affects both the short- and long-term oncological outcomes. Thus, IBI may be a promising prognostic factor for the treatment and management of EC.

Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Microwave Ablation in Elderly Patients with Recurrent Medium or Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

There are insufficient data about the optimal treatment for older patients with recurring medium or large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study intended to assess the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation (TACE-MWA) in an elderly cohort through a retrospective analysis. From 2011 to 2018, a cohort of individuals (age ≥70 years) with recurrent HCC tumors ranging from 3.1 cm to 7 cm underwent either a combination treatment of TACE and MWA (n = 43) or surgical intervention (n = 33). Using the Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) technique, factors of disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and rates of major adverse events were analyzed, retrospectively. The group that underwent surgery had a greater history of alcohol use before treatment (P= 0.001), as well as a higher Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage for the primary tumor before treatment (P= 0.014) and a higher primary tumor location before treatment (P= 0.045). The TACE-MWA group had DFS rates of 86.2%, 68.8%, and 60.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, while the surgery group had rates of 53.0%, 42.2%, and 25.8% at the same time points. In the TACE-MWA treatment group, survival rates at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years post-treatment were recorded as 93.0%, 80.8%, and 65.7%, respectively, while in the surgery group, they were 62.7%, 46.9%, and 42.6%. In the univariate analysis using IPTW, the type of treatment was found to have a significant correlation with disease progression (hazard ratio [HR] 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.86, P=0.017). IPTW multivariate analysis showed that treatment modality (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.79; P= 0.011) was the only significant prognostic factor for OS. In elderly patients with recurrent 3.1 cm≤ HCC ≤ 7 cm, TACE-WMA was superior to surgery in the respects of DFS and OS.

Malignant salivary gland tumors of the tongue: A multicenter REFCOR study.

Salivary carcinomas of minor salivary glands are very infrequent tumors. When located in the tongue, the therapeutic strategy may comprise upfront surgery, which may be debilitating, and/or (chemo-)radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic factors of salivary carcinomas of the tongue in a population-based cohort. This retrospective multicentric study, based on the "Réseau d'Expertise Français sur les Cancers ORL Rares" (REFCOR), included all the patients with a salivary carcinoma of the tongue, diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2018. Dubious slides were reviewed by REFCOR expert pathologists to ensure diagnostic accuracy. Treatment was performed in accordance with national REFCOR recommendations. From 28 centers, 103 patients were included in this study. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years, and 60.2% were female. Tumors were adenoid cystic carcinomas (41.7%), mucoepidermoid carcinomas (30.1%), and other adenocarcinomas (28.2%). Primary treatment was surgical for 61.2% of them. Five-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates were 84.7% and 38.6%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, EFS was significantly worse in case of nonsurgical treatment, alcohol consumption, and glossotonsillar sulcus involvement. N-positive status was the only significant prognostic factor for OS in multivariable analysis. Salivary carcinomas of the tongue represent a heterogeneous group of rare tumors, with a high risk of recurrence. In this national cohort, surgery was associated with better EFS and N-status was the main independent prognostic factor for OS.

The prognostic value of lymphovascular invasion for stage I lung adenocarcinoma based on the presence of ground-glass opacity.

There is still a debate regarding the prognostic implication of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT is known to correlate with a less invasive or lepidic component in adenocarcinoma, which may influence the strength of prognostic factors. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of LVI in stage I lung adenocarcinoma based on the presence of GGO. Stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients receiving lobectomy between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively categorized as GGO-positive or GGO-negative (solid adenocarcinoma) on CT. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) to evaluate the prognostic significance of pathologic LVI based on the presence of GGO. Of 924 patients included (mean age, 62.5 ± 9.2 years; 505 women), 525 (56.8%) exhibited GGO-positive adenocarcinoma and 116 (12.6%) were diagnosed with LVI. LVI was significantly more frequent in solid than GGO-positive adenocarcinoma (20.1% vs. 6.9%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified LVI and visceral pleural invasion (VPI) as significant prognostic factors for shorter DFS among solid adenocarcinoma patients (LVI, hazard ratio (HR): 1.89, p = 0.004; VPI, HR: 1.65, p = 0.003) but not GGO-positive patients (p = 0.76 and p = 0.87). In contrast, LVI was not a significant prognostic factor for OS in either group (p > 0.05). In stage I lung adenocarcinoma, pathologic LVI was associated with DFS only in patients with solid lung adenocarcinoma. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) significantly affects disease-free survival in solid-stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients, but not those with ground-glass opacity (GGO) adenocarcinoma. Risk stratification considering both GGO on CT and LVI may identify patients benefiting from increased surveillance. The presence of ground-glass opacity portends different prognoses for lung adenocarcinoma. In stage I lung adenocarcinoma, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was significantly more frequent in solid adenocarcinomas than in ground-glass opacity (GGO)-positive adenocarcinomas. LVI was not associated with overall survival in patients with either solid adenocarcinomas or GGO adenocarcinomas.

Prognostic impact of the number and total tumor burden of secondary cerebral lesions in patients with resected brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancers.

Systemic therapeutic advancements have improved the prognosis of cancer patients, leading to surgery more frequently being carried out for patients with multiple brain metastases (BM). The underlying evidence for the strategy is currently lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the number of BM and total tumor burden (TTB) on the overall survival (OS) of patients with resected BM of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a modern series. In this monocentric retrospective series, patients who underwent resection of BM of NSCLC between 2015 and 2021 were included. Demographic, clinical, and histological parameters were collected, and formal radiological volumetric analyses were performed. Prognostic biomarkers for cerebral progression-free survival (C-PFS) and OS were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. One hundred eighty-four patients were included in the study. Among these, 108 patients (58.7%) presented with a single brain metastasis, 36 patients (19.6%) with 2 BM, 22 patients (11.9%) with 3 BM, and 18 patients (9.8%) with more than 3 BM (maximum 15 BM). The mean ± SD (range) preoperative tumor burden was 23.1 ± 25.3 (1.1-145.3) cm3. The mean residual tumor burden after surgery was 0.3 ± 0.8 (0.0-6.3) cm3. By the time of the analysis, 128 patients (69.6%) had died. The median follow-up duration was 49.0 months (95% CI 39.6-63.6). The median OS was 19.2 months (95% CI 13.2-24.0), and the survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 76% (95% CI 69%-82%), 61% (95% CI 53%-67%), and 43% (95% CI 35%-50%), respectively. The median C-PFS was 8.4 months (95% CI 7.2-12.0). In the Cox multivariate regression model, younger age (< 65 years), single brain metastasis, adjuvant brain radiation therapy, adjuvant use of targeted therapy, and TTB < 7 cm3 were all independent predictors of longer OS. In this era of modern systemic treatments for cancer, the number of BM and total cerebral tumor burden remain significant prognostic factors of OS. However, resection should be considered as an option even in those patients with multiple BM in order to enhance patient clinical status, enable further local and systemic treatment delivery, and improve their survival and quality of life.

Treatment Outcomes in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers: Single Institution Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Purpose Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), particularly gallbladder cancers (GBCs), are prevalent in India. Yet there are limited data on treatment outcomes. To bridge this gap, we performed an analysis of advanced BTC treatment outcomes at our institute, seeking to offer insights into real-world scenario. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective study comprising advanced BTC patients treated at our institute from January 2015 to March 2023. We assessed demographics, treatment approaches, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and associated toxicities. Results Of the 411 patients analyzed, the majority were GBC (67.3%, n = 277), while the rest were cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) (32.6%, n = 134). The median age of study population was 56 years. Palliative chemotherapy was administered in 85% (n = 349) of all patients. Gemcitabine–cisplatin doublet was the most commonly used chemotherapy regimen (80.2%, n = 280). Platinum doublets yielded higher response rates compared with single-agent/nonplatinum chemotherapy (60 vs. 30%, n = 133). The median PFS was 4 months. The median OS was 8 months with platinum doublets and 5 months with single-agent/nonplatinum chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.60, 95% confidence interval: [CI] 0.43–0.84, p = 0.0001). OS was no different based on the type of platinum agent used. Patients receiving multiple lines of treatment lived longer compared with those who received single line only (14 vs. 6 months, respectively, HR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.28–0.45, p &lt; 0.0001). Significant prognostic factors for OS were treatment with chemotherapy, platinum doublets, platinum exposure in first line, and treatment beyond first line. Grade 3 or 4 adverse effects seen were anemia (13.9%, n = 36), vomiting (4.2%, n = 11), diarrhea (3.4%, n = 9), thrombocytopenia (3.4%, n = 9), and febrile neutropenia (3.1%, n = 8). Conclusion This analysis confirms that chemotherapy is beneficial for advanced BTC. Platinum-based doublets are more effective than single agents. There is no significant difference between cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Patients who received multiple lines of treatment had better OS.

Gustave Roussy Immune score as a prognostic biomarker in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: YUSHIMA study.

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the Gustave Roussy Immune score (GRIm-score) in platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) treated with pembrolizumab. This multicenter retrospective study (YUSHIMA study) evaluated 331 patients with metastatic UC treated with pembrolizumab after platinum-based chemotherapy between January 2018 and June 2023 at 13 institutions. We collected pretreatment variables, including the GRIm-score based on serum albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The patients were divided into low and high GRIm-score groups. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. During the median follow-up period of 7.3months, 278 (84%) patients showed disease progression, and 223 (67%) died from any cause. Multivariate analysis revealed that the high GRIm-score group was an independent and significant adverse prognostic factor of both OS and PFS (hazard ratio, 1.65 and 1.82, respectively; both p < 0.001) along with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of ≥ 2 (both p < 0.001), presence of visceral metastasis (both p < 0.001), and hemoglobin of < 9.2g/dL (p = 0.030 and p = 0.038). C-reactive protein of > 42mg/L was a significant prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.001). The GRIm-score is an independent prognostic marker for survival outcomes in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic UC treated with pembrolizumab.

The Prognostic Significance of Tumor SUVmax Value in Pre- and Post-Chemoradiotherapy 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Patients with Localized and Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Some parameters of 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) can predict tumor chemosensitivity and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of pre- and post-treatment maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for predicting mortality in patients with HNSCC, as well as its prognostic value in terms of disease progression, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Methods: This retrospective study included 37 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of HNSCCs between 2015 and 2018. In patients with HNSCC, the first 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging was performed for pre-treatment staging, and the second imaging was performed to evaluate post-treatment response. In these imaging studies, SUVmax values of the primary tumor before and after treatment were determined. After the second imaging, patients were re-evaluated and followed up. ROC analysis was used to determine the predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax parameters in terms of death and progression, and Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the prognostic value in terms of OS and PFS. Results: Cut-off value 15 for SUVmax1 (pre-treatment) had a significant predictive value for mortality (P = 0.02). Cut-off value 3.1 for SUVmax2 (post-treatment) had a significant predictive value for progression (P = 0.024). In univariate analysis, both SUVmax1 and SUVmax2 values were significant prognostic factors for OS (P = 0.047, P = 0.004). However, for PFS, only the SUVmax2 value was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.001). Conclusion: SUVmax1 value of the primary tumor at diagnosis in HNSCC patients has a predictive value for mortality and a prognostic value for OS. However, the SUVmax2 value in the primary tumor after treatment is a predictive factor for progression and a prognostic factor for both OS and PFS.

Five-year survival outcomes from the PIT-1 trial: Pemetrexed-cisplatin plus bevacizumab or concurrent thoracic radiation therapy followed by surgery in stage IIIA (N2) nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

8064 Background: Personized Induction Therapy-1 (PIT-1) is a multicenter, randomized phase II selection design trial of pemetrexed-cisplatin plus bevacizumab (BEV arm) or concurrent thoracic radiation therapy (TRT arm) followed by surgery in patients with stage IIIA (N2) nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The TRT arm was chosen as the investigational induction treatment strategy for a future phase III study based on the results of a numerically higher 2-year progression-free survival (PFS, primary endpoint) in the TRT arm and fatal postoperative complications observed only in the BEV arm. We report updated, exploratory analyses of survival, approximately 5 years after the last patient was randomly assigned. Methods: Patients with stage IIIA (N2) nonsquamous NSCLC were randomly assigned (1:1) induction therapy consisting of pemetrexed and cisplatin plus bevacizumab (n = 44) or concurrent TRT (n = 44) followed by surgery. Among them, 38 patients in the BEV arm and 37 patients in the TRT arm underwent surgery. Five-year overall survival (OS), 5-year PFS, and patterns of postoperative recurrence were compared between arms. Prognostic factors of OS were analyzed in surgically resected patients using Cox’s proportional hazard model. Results: The median follow-up was 66.4 months. In 82 treated patients, the 5-year OS and PFS rates were 63.5% (95% CI: 46.9-76.1) and 26.2% (95% CI: 14.1-40.0) in the BEV arm (n = 42), and 57.2% (95% CI: 40.5-70.8) and 27.5% (95% CI: 14.9-41.7) in the TRT arm (n = 40), respectively. There were no statistical differences in OS ( P = 0.572) and PFS ( P = 0.356). In 75 surgically resected patients, pathological nodal down stage was the only significant prognostic factor of OS ( P = 0.014). Age, sex, smoking status, clinical T stage, clinical N stage based on a computed tomography scan, preoperative serum CEA and CYFRA level, EGFR mutation status, pathological complete response, and major pathological response did not have a significant prognostic impact on OS. The patterns of postoperative recurrence were different between arms: locoregional only, in four (11%) and one (3%); distant metastasis only, in 16 (42%) and 21 (57%); and both, in five (13%) and four (11%) in the BEV and TRT arms, respectively. The recurrence rate of ipsilateral hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes (the irradiation field) was significantly lower in the TRT arm (3%) than in the BEV arm (21%, P= 0.01). Conclusions: Five-year survival outcomes were not different between the BEV and TRT arms. The TRT arm demonstrated sufficient local control, but insufficient control of distant metastasis so this is an important issue that requires improvement in the future. Clinical trial information: s031180402.

Induction Immunochemotherapy Yields a Higher Conversion Rate and Better Overall Survival than Chemotherapy in Initially Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This study compared the surgical conversion rate and overall survival (OS) between induction chemotherapy (iC) and induction immunochemotherapy (iIC) for patients with initially unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (iuESCC). In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, patients from four high-volume institutions with unresectable diseases were included. The primary endpoints were the conversion surgery rate and OS. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent significant prognostic factors associated with OS. The stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to confirm the survival comparison between the iIC and iC cohorts. A total of 309 patients (150 in the iIC cohort and 159 in the iC cohort) were included. A significantly higher conversion surgical rate was observed in the iIC cohort (iIC vs. iC: 127/150, 84.7% vs. 79/159, 49.7%, P < 0.001). The pathological complete response rates were 22.0% and 5.1% in the iIC and the iC cohorts, respectively (P = 0.001). A significant difference in the OS was observed between the iIC (not reached) and iC cohorts (median 95% CI 36.3 [range 27.2-45.5]). The stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting yielded similar results. Regimen (iIC vs. iC, HR 0.215, 95% CI 0.102-0.454, P < 0.001) and operation (yes vs. no, HR 0.262, 95% CI 0.161-0.427, P < 0.001) were the significant prognostic factors for OS. Immunochemotherapy plus conversion surgery in the induction setting may be a better treatment option to achieve high pathological responses and improve OS in iuESCC patients.

The outcome of relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantations: A single-center experience.

In children with high-risk childhood acute leukemia who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), relapse is still the leading cause of treatment failure. The prognosis is poor, yet prospective studies have only limited data on risk factors and outcomes. We aimed to understand the outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who relapsed following allo-HSCT. We analyzed retrospectively 46 children with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had relapsed after receiving their first alloHSCT. All these patients received salvage chemotherapy which consisted of fludarabine, cytarabine, and idarubicin before performing a second alloHSCT. The median follow-up of the 46 patients after the first transplantation was 366 days. The median time from first allo-HSCT to relapse was 278.4±238.4 days. Forty-six patients received salvage chemotherapy before the second alloHSCT, and CR was achieved in 32 of 46 patients. However, only 17 (37%) of 46 patients received a second allo-HSCT, and 15 of 46 patients died from disease progression, infections, and bleeding. Twelve patients are still alive after the second allo-HSCT. Two-year overall survival (OS) was 38.9%. Local therapy was given to 10 (21.8%) patients, either as part of systemic therapy or alone. In multivariate analyses, the time of relapse and curative salvage therapy with a second allo-HSCT were identified as significant prognostic factors for OS. Children with leukemia who had relapsed after the first allo-HSCT received salvage chemotherapy. Our statistical analysis showed that the second HSCT could be beneficial for outcomes if patients relapsed beyond 180 days of the first allo-HSCT.

Nomogram-based prognostic tool for stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing traditional Chinese medicine treatment

ObjectiveGiven the significant impact of long-term traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment on the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we aimed to develop nomograms, with or without consideration of TCM treatment duration, to accurately predict the overall survival (OS) of patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC treated with TCM. MethodsNomograms were developed from a training cohort comprised of 292 patients diagnosed with NSCLC, using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to screen for various prognostic factors with and without TCM treatment. The nomograms were evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA), after which they were validated, using the bootstrap self-sampling method for internal validation, and a validation cohort comprised of 175 patients for external validation. Bootstrap validation is a resampling technique that involves randomly selecting and replacing data from the original dataset to make statistical inferences, thereby circumventing the issue of sample reduction that can arise from cross-validation. ResultsWe identified seven significant prognostic factors for OS. For nomogram A (excluding TCM treatment time), the C-indexes (95 % confidence interval [CI]) were 0.674 (0.635–0.712) and 0.660 (0.596–0.724) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. For nomogram B (including TCM treatment time), the C-indices (95 % CI) were 0.846 (0.822–0.870) and 0.783 (0.730–0.894), for the training and validation cohorts, respectively, indicating that nomogram B was superior to nomogram A. Both the calibration curves and DCA results exhibited favorable clinical concordance and usefulness. ConclusionThe nomogram B yielded precise prognostic predictions for patients with advanced NSCLC treated with TCM.

Prognostic impact of muscle mass loss in elderly patients with oesophageal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.

We aimed to identify the impact of muscle mass on locally advanced oesophageal cancer (LAEC) in elderly patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT). We reviewed the medical records of 345 patients diagnosed with LAEC who underwent NACRT and surgery. Physical variables, including height, weight, skeletal muscle mass, and laboratory values, were obtained before and after NACRT. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were calculated as height/(weight)2, ANC/ALC, platelet count/ALC, and (10×albumin+0.05×ALC), respectively. The cutoff for low muscle mass was 43.0cm2/m2 for BMI below 25kg/m2 and 53.0cm2/m2 for BMI 25kg/m2 or higher. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was defined as skeletal muscle area/(height)2 (cm2/m2). The ΔSMI (%/50days) was defined as (SMI after NACRT-SMI before NACRT)/interval (days)×50 (days) to compare changes over the same period. The excessive muscle loss (EML) group was defined as patients with ΔSMI ≤-10% following NACRT. An elderly patient was defined as aged ≥65years. The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS). During a median follow-up of 32.8months (range, 2.0-176.2), 192 patients died, with a median OS of 50.2months. Elderly patients did not show inferior OS (young vs. elderly, 57.7% vs. 54.0% at 3years, P=0.247). 71.0% and 87.2% of all patients had low muscle mass before and after NACRT, respectively, which was not associated with OS (P=0.270 and P=0.509, respectively). Inflammatory (NLR and PLR) and nutritional index (PNI) values or their changes did not correlate with OS. However, the EML group had worse OS (41.6% vs. 63.2% at 3years, P<0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, EML was also a significant prognostic factor for OS. In the subgroup analysis by age, EML was a strong prognostic factor for OS in the elderly group. The 3-year OS was 36.8% in the EML group and 64.9% in the non-EML group (P<0.0001) in elderly patients, and 47.4% and 62.1% (P=0.063) in the young patients. In multivariate analysis of each subgroup, EML remained prognostic only in the elderly group (P=0.008). EML may be strongly associated with a deteriorated OS in elderly patients undergoing NACRT, followed by surgery for LAEC. The strategies for decreasing muscle loss in these patients should be investigated.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of male breast cancer in China.

This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of male breast cancer (MBC) patients and the factors influencing their prognosis. We conducted a retrospective case series analysis of 117 MBC cases who were treated at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from 2009 to 2022. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify prognostic factors of MBC. Nomogram was constructed based on these factors, which was further evaluated by C-index and calibration curves. A total of 115 MBC cases were finally included in our analyses, with median diagnosis age of 59 years. Of these cases, 80.0% were estrogen receptor (ER) positive, 79.2% were progesterone receptor (PR) positive, 48.7% were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative, and 42.6% had Ki67 levels higher than 15%. 108 (93.9%) cases underwent radical mastectomy, while only 3 (2.6%) received breast-conserving surgery. The Logrank test suggested that lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was negatively associated with both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of MBC, while platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were only positively associated with OS (all P-values < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13) was significant prognostic factors for OS. Meanwhile, age (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10), histological differentiation grade (poorly differentiated/undifferentiated vs. well-differentiated: HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.05-6.17), and TNM stage (IV vs. I: HR 31.59, 95% CI 6.01-165.93) were also significant prognostic factors for DFS. Nomograms were developed for DFS, with C-indexes of 0.782, indicating good predictive performance. Increased age, bigger tumor size, higher TNM stage, and lower histological differentiation grade were associated with poor MBC prognosis, and LMR, PLR, and NLR might be potential predictors for MBC prognosis.

Prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with advanced digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma treated with first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy: A post-hoc analysis of JCOG1213.

594 Background: Advanced digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma (ADNEC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy without evidence of prognostic factors assessed in prospective studies. We aimed to evaluate prognostic factors in patients with ADNEC receiving first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of JCOG1213, which is a phase 3 randomized trial showing equivalent overall survival (OS) for cisplatin plus etoposide versus cisplatin plus irinotecan as first-line chemotherapy for patients with ADNEC. The primary endpoint of JCOG1213 was OS. For this post-hoc analysis of prognostic factors, patients who had ineligible histology based on the central pathological review or who lacked the necessary clinical data for analysis were excluded. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the effect of independent variables on OS. Priori variables selected on previous reports (performance status (PS), Ki-67 index, and serum LDH level), as well as variables that remained at a level of p-value &lt;0.20 by backward stepwise selection, were incorporated in the final model of OS. Results: Among 170 patients enrolled in JCOG1213, a total of 129 patients with ADNEC were included in this analysis. In multivariable analysis, serum LDH level (&gt; upper normal limit vs. normal) was identified as a significant prognostic factor for OS (HR = 1.721, 95% CI: 1.144–2.589, p = 0.009). Other clinicopathological factors were not found to be significant, including PS (1 vs. 0; HR = 0.784, 95% CI: 0.507–1.214, p = 0.276), Ki-67 (≥ 55% vs. &lt; 55%; HR = 1.475, 95% CI: 0.588–3.698, p = 0.407), liver metastasis (present vs. absent; HR = 1.434, 95% CI: 0.968–2.124, p = 0.072), sex (female vs. male; HR = 1.387, 95% CI: 0.937–2.053, p = 0.102), and serum ALP level (&gt; upper normal limit vs. normal; HR = 0.948, 95% CI: 0.639–1.406, p = 0.789). OS of patients with elevated serum LDH levels was shorter than those with normal serum LDH levels (median: 9.5 months vs. 15.6 months, p = 0.0019). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding objective response rate (58.8% vs. 54.1%, p = 0.594) and progression-free survival (median: 4.5 months vs. 5.9 months, p = 0.141). A numerically lower proportion of patients with elevated serum LDH levels received second-line chemotherapy than those with normal serum LDH levels (76.5% vs. 88.3%). Conclusions: Serum LDH level may serve as a prognostic factor in the daily practice of patients with ADNEC and as a risk stratification factor in future randomized clinical trials. Clinical trial information: UMIN000014795 .