We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, mean platelet value (MPV), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients ...with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). One hundred sixty-eight patients with LAGC who had been followed-up between 2004 and 2008 were included in present study. The results of hematological (platelet, lymphocyte, neutrophil and MPV) and biochemical (uric acid and LDH) parameters were evaluated before treatment. NLR was divided into two groups as <2.56 and ≥2.57 and PLR was also divided into two groups as ≤160 and >160. Platelet counts and lymphocyte counts were also divided into two groups; ≤300.000/mm3 and >300.000/mm3, and <1,500/mm3 and ≥1,500/mm3, respectively. Results were evaluated with Kaplan–Meier and Long-rank tests. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 60.1 ± 12.1 and 114 of patients (67.8%) were male. For 168 patients, 48 months overall survival (OS) rate was 45.2% and the median OS was 39 months (range 33–44). In patients whose PLR was less than 160 (
n
= 54), the median OS was 45 months (range 38–52) and also for cases whose PRL was greater than 160 (
n
= 114), the median OS was 27 months (range 22–32) (
p
= 0.006). While for fifty patients whose lymphocyte counts were less than 1,500, the median OS was 27 months (range 21–33), in cases with high lymphocyte counts (≥1,500) (
n
= 118), it was 41 months (range 35–48) (
p
= 0.03). The median OS was 41 (range 34–48) and 30 (range 23–37) months in two platelets groups, respectively (
p
= 0.24). However, in the patients whose NLR was less than 2.56 (
n
= 107), median OS was better than with cases whose NLR was greater than or equal to 2.56 (42 vs. 27 months). Routine peripheral blood counts may be useful prognostic factor for evaluating the accuracy of risk stratification in patients with radically resected gastric cancer Our results need to be confirmed by study including larger sample size in future.
Background
The prognostic significance of perineural invasion (PNI) in gastric cancer has been previously investigated in a few studies, but had not reached a consensus. The aim of this study was to ...determine the prognostic value of PNI in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 238 patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy. Paraffin sections of surgical specimens from all patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. PNI was defined when carcinoma cells infiltrated into the perineurium or neural fascicles. PNI and the other prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results
PNI was detected as positive in 180 of the 238 patients (75.6%). pT stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, tumor differentiation, Borrmann classification, histological type, lymphatic vessel invasion, and blood vessel invasion were closely associated with the presence of PNI. The PNI-positive tumors had significantly larger size and more lymph node metastasis than the PNI-negative tumors (
P
= .001 and
P
< .001, respectively). The median survival of the PNI-positive patients was significantly worse than that of the PNI-negative patients (28.1 vs. 64.9 months,
P
= .001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the positivity of PNI was an independent prognostic factor (
P
= .02, hazard ratio HR: 2.75; 95% confidence interval 95% CI:1.12–3.13) as were classical clinicopathological features.
Conclusion
Our results showed that the frequency of PNI was high in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy and the proportion of PNI positivity increased with progression and clinical stage of disease. PNI may be useful in detecting patients who had poor prognosis after curative resection in gastric cancer.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected ovarian cancer recurrence as compared with diagnostic CT, and to assess the impact of the ...results of FDG PET/CT on treatment planning.
Methods
Included in this retrospective study were 60 patients with suspected recurrent ovarian cancer who had previously undergone primary debulking surgery and had been treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Diagnostic CT and FDG PET/CT imaging were performed for all patients as clinically indicated. The changes in the clinical management of patients according to the results of FDG PET/CT were also analysed.
Results
FDG PET/CT was performed in 21 patients with a previously negative or indeterminate diagnostic CT scan, but an elevated CA-125 level, and provided a sensitivity of 95% in the detection of recurrent disease. FDG PET/CT revealed recurrent disease in 19 patients. In 17 of 60 patients, the indication for FDG PET/CT was an elevated CA-125 level and an abnormal diagnostic CT scan to localize accurately the extent of disease. FDG PET/CT scans correctly identified recurrent disease in 16 of the 17 patients, a sensitivity of 94.1%. Moreover, FDG PET/CT was performed in 18 patients with clinical symptoms of ovarian cancer recurrence, an abnormal diagnostic CT scan, but a normal CA-125 level. In this setting, FDG PET/CT correctly confirmed recurrent disease in seven patients providing a sensitivity of 100% in determining recurrence. In four patients, FDG PET/CT was carried out for the assessment of treatment response. Three of four scans were classified as true-negative indicating a complete response. In the other patient, FDG PET/CT identified progression of disease. In total, 45 (75%) of the 60 patients had recurrent disease, in 14 (31.1%) documented by histopathology and in 31 (68.9%) on clinical follow-up, while 15 (25%) had no evidence of recurrent disease. The overall sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of FDG PET/CT were significantly superior to those of diagnostic CT (95.5% vs. 55.5%, 93.3% vs. 66.6%, 95% vs. 58.3%, 97.7% vs. 83.3%, 87.7% vs. 33.3%, respectively;
p
= 0.02) in the detection of recurrent ovarian cancer. FDG PET/CT changed the management in 31 patients (51.6%). It led to the use of previously unplanned treatment procedures in 19 patients (61.2%) and the avoidance of previously planned therapeutic procedures in 12 patients (38.8%).
Conclusion
Our results confirm that FDG PET/CT is a superior posttherapy surveillance modality for the detection of recurrent ovarian cancer than diagnostic CT imaging. Furthermore, integrated FDG PET/CT was useful specifically in optimizing the treatment plan and it might play an important role in treatment stratification in the future.
Aim of the Study: Although surgery is considered to be curative treatment, recurrence rates are high in gastric cancer. Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemoradiotherapy has been shown to ...improve the prognosis. We compared tolerability and efficacy of the two different chemotherapy regimens; 5-FU/leucovorin (LV) versus cisplatin with capecitabine (XP) combined with radiotherapy (RT) in the adjuvant therapy of the lymph node positive locally advanced gastric cancer.
Materials and Methods: Totally, 104 patients who underwent curative surgery with lymph node resection were evaluated, respectively. Patients were stratified two group based on the adjuvant chemoradiotherapy regimen. Group 1 (n = 46) received XP followed capecitabine with RT (XRT) then XP. Group 2 (n = 58) received 5-FU/LV combined with RT postoperatively. Two groups were compared based on clinicopathological parameters. Factors related with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.
Results: Totally, 32 patients had recurrent disease, and there was no difference between two groups. While peritoneal metastasis was more common in XP arm, distant metastasis was commonly seen in 5-FU/LV arm. There was no significant difference between two groups in regard of Grade 3/4 toxicitis; hematologic toxicities were more in 5-FU/LV group than XP arm. In addition, dose modification because of toxicities were more frequent in 5-FU/LV arm (P = 0.003). For all groups, lymph node dissection type was related with DFS, surgical margin and recurrence were important for OS.
Conclusion: XP-XRT regimen is well tolerated with lower toxicity compared the standard 5-FU/LV-RT. Although there is no difference with respect to outcome, patients with XP arm without the necessity of intravenous catheter admitted hospital less frequent than bolus5-FU/LV arm.
Purpose
The prognosis of gallbladder cancer is poor. Lymph node metastasis and the stage are known to be the strongest prognostic factors for survival. The aim of this study was to determine the ...importance of complementary surgery and other prognostic factors for survival of operated gallbladder cancer.
Material and Method
We retrospectively analyzed 62 localized gallbladder cancers. The prognostic factors for survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results
The 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 52.8 and 43.5%, respectively. Totally, 37 patients (59.6%) were diagnosed incidentally during simple cholecystectomy which was performed for benign causes but only 56.4% of them underwent complementary surgery. 51.6% of the recurrence was detected during 18.4 months of follow-up time. R0 resection, T stage, and pathological stage were found to be related with both OS and DFS by univariate analysis. Grade, lymph node metastasis, and adjuvant chemotherapy were also related with DFS. Presence of recurrence, recurrence side, performance score (PS), and perineural invasion (PNI) were related with OS. Peritoneal metastasis, advanced stage disease, and lymph node metastasis were more common among patients who did not undergo complementary surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given more frequently to patients who undergone complementary surgery group. The multivariate analysis indicated that grade, lymph node metastasis, stage, recurrence site, PS, and adjuvant chemotherapy stage were independent prognostic factors for DFS on the other and only stage was a prognostic factor for OS.
Conclusion
Our results showed that incidental diagnosis or complementary surgery was not related with DFS or OS but stage was only an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS in resected gallbladder cancer.
Purpose
M30 and M65 are different circulating fragments of cytokeratin 18. They release during apoptotic cell death, so it is believed that they reflect cell death of epithelial tumors. The aim of ...this study was to determine the prognostic value of plasma M30 and M65 levels in predicting of survival for patients with advanced gastric cancer compare with healthy controls.
Methods
Thirty-four patients with advanced gastric cancer and thirty-two healthy controls were included. Plasma M30 and M65 values were measured by quantitative ELISA method.
Results
The median age of patients and control groups was 60 and 56 years, respectively. No difference was detected between patient and control groups with respect to plasma median M30 values (390.4 vs. 270.7 U/l, respectively,
P
= 0.10). The median plasma M65 values of patients were significantly higher than those of control group (1232.1 vs. 580.1 U/l,
P
< 0.001). The best cut-off values for plasma M30 and M65 for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) were 277.7 and 1434.9 U/l in ROC analysis. The patients whose plasma M30 values were higher than 277.7 U/l had worse PFS than patients with plasma M30 value <277.7 U/l (8.9 vs. 11.2, respectively,
P
= 0.01). The median PFS of patients whose M65 levels lower than or equal to 1434.9 U/l was better than that of patients whose M65 levels were >1434.9 U/l (12.4 vs. 10.4, respectively,
P
= 0.04). But plasma M30 and M65 level in patient group were not found to be an important prognostic factor for PFS in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions
These results showed that plasma M65 values were significantly elevated in patients with advanced gastric cancer compared to healthy people. Moreover, both increased plasma M30 and M65 levels can predict PFS in patients with gastric cancer.
Background
Testicular cancer, like other histopathologic types, commonly metastasizes to the lungs, liver, and brain. Spread to soft tissue, however, is rare with only four cases with seminoma ...reported. However, one case with metastasis of testicular immature teratoma to soft tissue was documented previously.
Case Description
We report the case of a 38-year-old man with recurrent immature teratoma of the testis who presented with a painless soft tissue mass in the left thigh previously treated with standard chemotherapy. After removal of the soft tissue mass, his serum alpha-fetoprotein level had returned to the normal range.
Literature Review
To our knowledge, this is the second case of immature teratoma of the testis metastasized to soft tissue.
Purposes and Clinical Relevance
We suggest that for a man with testicular cancer who has a soft tissue mass, metastasis of soft tissue from testicular cancer and other solid malignancies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue mass together with primary soft tissue sarcoma.
Abstract Background Although studies have investigated whether a routine follow-up should be performed after a gastrectomy, no consensus has been reached on the significance of the follow-up or the ...optimal surveillance protocol. In the present study, we evaluated the significance of the presence or absence of symptoms in the detection of recurrences after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 173 patients with recurrent gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the presence of cancer-related symptoms at the diagnosis of recurrence, and the relationship between the presence of symptoms and other clinicopathological factors. Results We detected a symptomatic recurrence in 42.2% of patients. The presence of symptoms were significantly correlated with tumor size, pT stage, pN stage, pathologic stage, and short disease-free interval (<12 mo). The median disease-free survival (DFS), post-recurrence survival (PRS), and overall survival (OS) times for patients with asymptomatic recurrence were significantly longer than those of patients with symptomatic recurrence (disease-free survival was corrected as DFS, 11.1 versus 9.3 mo, P < 0.001; PRS, 4.9 versus 3.1 mo, P = 0.02; OS, 18.3 versus 12.3 mo, P = 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of cancer-related symptoms ( P = 0.033; hazard ratio HR, 0.81) was an independent prognostic factor for PRS, as were short disease-free intervals ( P < 0.001; HR, 2.42), age ( P = 0.02; HR, 1.53), and the presence of chemotherapy in recurrence ( P = 0.001; HR, 0.49). In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of symptoms, short disease-free interval, and age were also independent prognostic indicators for OS. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that symptomatic recurrence is an important prognostic factor for PRS of patients with gastric cancer after a curative gastrectomy. The presence of symptomatic recurrence may be a new and beneficial prognostic marker to evaluate biologic aggressiveness, which is an important determinant of survival at the time of recurrence diagnosis during a follow-up for gastric cancer.
Background
Although a close correlation between PRL-3 overexpression and lymph node metastasis has been reported in gastric cancer, its clinical utility as a useful prognostic molecular marker ...remains unclear.
Methods
Prognostic significance of PRL-3 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically in 110 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone curative gastrectomy.
Results
There was a significant correlation between gender, histology, lymph node metastasis, the presence of recurrence, and the level of PRL-3 expression. Recurrence in patients with high PRL-3 expression was significantly higher than that for patients with low PRL-3 expression (
p
< 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) time and 2-year OS rate for patients with high or moderate PRL-3 expressed tumors were worse than those of patients with low PRL-3 expressed tumor (
p
= 0.001). In addition, patients with low PRL-3 expression had a higher DFS rate and the median DFS interval than those of moderate or high PRL-3 expressed patients (
p
< 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the rate of PRL-3 expression was an independent prognostic factor, in addition to the already-known important clinicopathological prognostic indicator for both DFS and OS.
Conclusions
The potential value of PRL-3 expression as a useful molecular marker in gastric cancer progression should be evaluated comprehensively; it may predict recurrence and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer after curative resection.
Although oncological treatments are improving, the prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has not. Several biomarkers related to prognosis have been evaluated, and M30 and M65 have ...been reported to be higher in patients with NSCLC than in healthy people. In the current study, we evaluated the clinical importance of the change in serum M30 and M65 values after chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC. Serum M30 and M65 values were measured before and 48 h after chemotherapy in thirty-two patients with advanced NSCLC. The importance of the change in the levels of these markers after chemotherapy was analyzed by univariate analysis. The median serum M65 and M30 values increased significantly after chemotherapy (
p
< 0.001). The median M30 value after chemotherapy was an important prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) (
p
= 0.002) and progression-free survival (PFS) (
p
= 0.002). Stage and histopathological type were significant both for PFS and OS. Multivariate analysis showed that the median M30 value after chemotherapy was the only independent prognostic factor for PFS (
p
= 0.04, HR 5.4) and OS (
p
= 0.02, HR 11.49). Our results indicated that both serum M30 and M65 values increased after chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC, and an elevated serum M30 value was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS.
PDF
