Significant Independent Prognostic Factor (significant + independent_prognostic_factor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Primary and secondary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx: A review

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 4 2008
Alfio Ferlito MD, DPath, FASCP, FDSRCS, FHKCORL, FRCPath, FRCSEd, FRCSGlasg, FRCSI
Abstract Primary laryngeal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) is an unusual malignancy accounting for <0.5% of laryngeal carcinomas. To date, approximately 200 cases of primary and 5 of secondary SCNC of the larynx have been reported. This tumor most often presents in the sixth and seventh decades in men who are heavy cigarette smokers. The lesion may be associated with different paraneoplastic syndromes (ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome, Schwartz,Bartter syndrome or syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, and Eaton,Lambert myasthenic syndrome) or with ectopic hormone production. The diagnosis is based essentially on the histologic appearance of the tumor, confirmed by immunocytochemical investigations. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens offer potential for long-term survival. This tumor is biologically aggressive, and the extent of the disease is the most significant independent prognostic factor of survival. The survival rate is similar to that with pulmonary SCNC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008 [source]


Impact of nutrition support on treatment outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy: A secondary analysis of RTOG trial 90-03,

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 4 2006
Rachel Rabinovitch MD
Abstract Background. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between nutrition support (NS) on host toxicity and cancer outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing definitive radiotherapy (XRT). Methods. We performed a secondary analysis of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 90-03, a prospective randomized trial evaluating four definitive XRT fractionation schedules in patients with locally advanced HNSCC, which prospectively collected data on NS delivered before treatment (BNS), during treatment (TNS), and after definitive XRT. NS data and pretreatment characteristics of the 1073 evaluable patients were analyzed against therapy toxicity and outcome. Results. Patients receiving BNS experienced significantly less weight loss by the end of treatment and less grade 3 to 4 mucositis than patients not receiving BNS. However, patients receiving BNS had a poorer 5-year actuarial locoregional control rate than patients receiving TNS or no NS (29%, 55%, and 57%, respectively, p < .0001) and a poorer 5-year overall survival rate (16%, 36%, and 49%, respectively, p < .0001). Patients receiving BNS were significantly more likely to have a higher T classification, N status, and overall American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage and initial presentation with greater pretreatment weight loss, and a poorer Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) than patients not receiving BNS. After adjusting for the impact of these prognostic factors through a recursive partition analysis, a multivariate analysis with a stratified Cox model found that BNS was still a highly significant independent prognostic factor for increased locoregional failure (hazards ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21,1.79; p < .0001) and death (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.19,1.67; p < .0001). Conclusion. In this study, the largest prospective evaluation of nutrition data in treated patients with cancer, BNS was associated with inferior treatment outcome in the patients with HNSCC undergoing XRT. These results should be considered hypothesis generating and encourage prospective clinical research and identification of the mechanisms underlying this finding. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck28: 287,296, 2006 [source]


Aerodigestive Tract Invasion by Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Management, Prognosis, and Biology

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2006
Judith Czaja McCaffrey MD
Objectives/Hypothesis: 1) To describe the clinical entity invasive well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (IWDTC), 2) to determine prognostic factors for survival in patients with IWDTC, 3) to describe and compare types of surgical resection to determine treatment efficacy, 4) to offer a staging system and surgical algorithm for management of patients with IWDTC, 5) to examine alterations in expression of E-cadherin and ,-catenin adhesion molecules in three groups of thyroid tissue and propose a cellular mechanism for invasion of the aerodigestive tract. Study Design: Basic science: quantification of expression of E-cadherin and ,-catenin in three groups of thyroid tissue. Clinical: retrospective review of patients with IWDTC surgically treated and followed over a 45-year time period. Methods: Basic science: immunohistochemical staining was used with antibodies against E-cadherin and ,-catenin in three groups of tissue: group 1, normal control thyroid tissue (n = 10); group 2, conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 20); group 3, IWDTC (n = 12). Intensity scores were given on the basis of protocol. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate differences between groups. Post hoc ANOVA testing was completed. P < .05 was significant. Clinical: patients were divided into three surgical groups within the laryngotracheal subset: group 1, complete resection of gross disease (n = 34); group 2, shave excision (n = 75); group 3, incomplete excision (n = 15). Cox regression analysis was used to determine significance of prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to evaluate survival. P < .05 was significant. Results: Basic science: a significant difference between the three thyroid tissue groups for E-cadherin expression was demonstrated on one-way ANOVA testing. When controls were compared with either experimental group in post hoc ANOVA testing, differences between all groups were demonstrated (P < .001). For ,-catenin, the intensities of the three groups were not different by one-way ANOVA testing. Similar nonsignificant results were found on post hoc ANOVA testing. Clinical: there was a statistically significant difference in survival for patients with and without involvement of any portion of the endolarynx or trachea (P < .01). There was a significant difference among all three surgical groups when compared (P < .001). When complete and shave groups were compared with gross residual group there was a significant decrease in survival in incomplete resection group (P < .01). Cox regression analysis demonstrated invasion of larynx and trachea were significant prognostic factors for poor outcome. The type of initial resection was significant on multivariate analysis. Removal of all gross disease is a major factor for survival. Conclusions: Basic science: there is a decrease in membrane expression of E-cadherin in IWDTC, and loss of this tumor suppressor adhesion molecule may contribute to the invasive nature of well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Clinical: laryngotracheal invasion is a significant independent prognostic factor for survival. Patients undergoing shave excision had similar survival when compared with those undergoing radical tumor resection if gross tumor did not remain. Gross intraluminal tumor should be resected completely. Shave excision is adequate for minimal invasion not involving the intraluminal surfaces of the aerodigestive tract. [source]


HER2 and tau expression as potential markers for response and survival to first line taxane plus cisplatin therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Byoung Yong SHIM
Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the role of various HER2, tau and bcl2 as prognostic markers of responsiveness to taxane and cisplatin therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Amplification of HER2 gene determined by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and HER2, tau and bcl2 protein expression determined by immunohistochemistry were assessed in 49 patients with NSCLC enrolled in our four clinical trials of taxane plus cisplatin chemotherapy. Results: The patients were classified as responders or non-responders, a negative tau expression was associated with a significantly higher rate of response compared to a positive tau expression (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.01,10.97, P = 0.043). Patients with more than stable disease compared to those with progressive disease showed that negative amplification of the HER2 gene was associated with a significantly higher rate of disease control compared to positive amplification (OR 7.35, 95% CI 0.83,65.21, P = 0.048). Furthermore, HER2 gene amplification was strongly associated with the overall survival: 20 months (95% CI 9.007,30.993) in patients with negative amplification of the HER2 gene versus 12 months (95% CI 6.584,17.416) in patients with positive amplification of the HER2 gene (P = 0.040). A multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that HER2 gene amplification was a significant independent prognostic factor with a hazard ratio of 2.334 (95% CI 1.060,5.142, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Tau protein expression and HER2 gene amplification are the prognostic factors in NSCLC patients treated with a taxane and cisplatin combination. [source]


Prognostic significance of peritoneal minimal residual disease in gastric cancer detected by reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 4 2004
K. Oyama
Background: A sensitive method for detecting minimal residual disease in the peritoneal cavity by quantifying carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA using real-time quantitative reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction (RQ-RT,PCR) was developed. The clinical value of the method for predicting peritoneal recurrence in patients with gastric cancer was evaluated. Method: A total of 195 patients with gastric cancer and 20 with asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis were included in the study. CEA mRNA expression in peritoneal washings (p- CEA mRNA) was measured by RQ-RT,PCR and normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA expression. The cut-off level of p- CEA mRNA for gastric cancer was determined by examining p- CEA mRNA levels in patients with asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Results: Fifty-five (28·2 per cent) of the 195 patients were p- CEA mRNA positive. The rate of p- CEA mRNA positivity correlated significantly with clinicopathological factors. In 163 patients who underwent curative surgery, overall survival and disease-free survival were significantly poorer in p- CEA mRNA-positive patients than in p- CEA mRNA-negative patients (P < 0·001). Cox regression analysis revealed that only p- CEA mRNA was a significant independent prognostic factor (P = 0·034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that p- CEA mRNA was a significant independent risk factor for peritoneal recurrence (P = 0·027). Conclusion: These results suggest that p- CEA mRNA is a reliable prognostic factor and predictor of peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer. Copyright © 2004 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Expression of C4.4A at the invasive front is a novel prognostic marker for disease recurrence of colorectal cancer

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 10 2010
Ken Konishi
Metastasis-associated gene C4.4A is a glycolipid-anchored membrane protein expressed in several human malignancies. The aim of this study was to explore the expression and clinical relevance of C4.4A in colorectal cancer. By quantitative RT-PCR, 154 colorectal cancer tissues were examined for C4.4A mRNA. We examined 132 colorectal cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry using a new polyclonal antibody that recognizes the C4.4A protein C-terminus containing the glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol anchor signaling sequence. A significant difference in 5-year overall survival was found between samples with high and low expression of C4.4A mRNA (P = 0.0005). Immunohistochemistry showed strong membranous staining of C4.4A at the invasive front of colorectal cancer tumors and at the frontier of metastatic lesions to lymph node and lung. The membranous staining with enhanced intensity at the invasive front of the primary colorectal cancer (Type A: 34/132, 25.6%) was associated with depth of invasion (P = 0.033) and venous invasion (P = 0.003), and was a significant independent prognostic factor (5-year overall survival in the entire series [n = 132; P = 0.004] and disease-free survival in stage II and III colorectal cancers [n = 82; P = 0.003]). Moreover, Type A C4.4A expression was linked to shorter liver metastasis-free survival rate, lung metastasis-free survival rate, or hematogenous metastasis-free survival (P = 0.0279, P = 0.0061, and P = 0.0006, respectively). Our data indicate that expression of the C4.4A protein at the invasive front acts as a novel prognostic marker in colorectal cancer, possibly through invasion-related mechanisms. (Cancer Sci 2010) [source]


Prognostic features of splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes: a report on 129 patients

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Nilima Parry-Jones
Summary. Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma defined in the World Health Organization classification as the leukaemic form of splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Presenting features and response to therapy have been described, but information on prognostic factors is scanty. Clinical, laboratory and follow-up data were collected on 129 patients with SLVL to determine features predicting disease behaviour and survival. Diagnosis was made on clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features and, where available, bone marrow and spleen histology. Median age was 69 years (range 39,90 years) and male:female ratio, 0·9. The majority had splenomegaly, but lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly were rare. Median Hb was 11·8 g/dl, white blood cell count was 16 × 109/l and platelet count was 145 × 109/l; 27% of patients had monoclonal protein in serum and/or urine. While 27% of patients remained untreated, 10% transformed to high-grade lymphoma. Median follow-up was 61 months and median survival was 13 years, with 72% of patients alive at 5 years. Cox regression analysis showed that increasing age, anaemia, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis >,16 × 109/l were independent adverse predictors of overall survival. However, only anaemia and lymphocytosis >,16 × 109/l remained highly significant independent prognostic factors when only deaths due to lymphoma were analysed. Splenectomized patients fared better than those receiving chemotherapy only (P = 0·001 for SLVL deaths). We conclude that SLVL is mainly a disease of the elderly with a relatively benign course but, when treatment is required, splenectomy is beneficial. [source]


Perineural invasion has a negative impact on survival of patients with gallbladder carcinoma

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 9 2002
R. Yamaguchi
Background: The clinical significance of perineural invasion of gallbladder carcinoma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence and mode of perineural invasion of gallbladder carcinoma and clarify its prognostic significance. Methods: A clinicopathological study was conducted on 68 patients who underwent attempted curative resection for gallbladder carcinoma. According to the pathological tumour node metastasis (pTNM) classification of the Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum, there were five (7 per cent), nine (13 per cent), 20 (29 per cent) and 34 (50 per cent) patients with pT1, pT2, pT3 and pT4 disease respectively. Twenty patients (29 per cent) had pM1 disease, including involved para-aortic nodes, liver metastases and localized dissemination. Results: The overall incidence of perineural invasion was 71 per cent (48 of 68 patients). Forty-four (96 per cent) of 46 patients with extrahepatic bile duct invasion had perineural invasion. Although several histological factors were associated with perineural invasion, multivariate analysis demonstrated that extrahepatic bile duct invasion was the only significant factor correlated with perineural invasion (odds ratio 99·0, P < 0·001). The perineural invasion index, defined as the ratio of the number of involved nerves to the total number of nerves examined, was significantly higher at the centre than in the proximal and distal parts of the tumour in the 46 patients with extrahepatic bile duct invasion (P < 0·001). The 5-year survival rate for patients with perineural invasion was significantly lower than that for patients with no invasion (7 versus 72 per cent; P < 0·001). Cox proportional hazard analysis identified perineural invasion (relative risk (RR) 5·3, P < 0·001) and lymph node metastasis (RR 2·5, P = 0·008) as significant independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Perineural invasion is common in advanced gallbladder carcinoma and has a significant negative impact on patient survival. © 2002 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]


Prognostic significance of synaptophysin in stage I of squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung

CANCER, Issue 8 2007
Federico González-Aragoneses MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. The prognostic significance of the presence of a neuroendocrine marker (synaptophysin, SY) was analyzed in stage I of squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. METHODS. A multicentric retrospective study was conducted with immunohistochemical staining in a single center of 318 patients resected for squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma in pathologic stage I. RESULTS. In all, 162 cases of squamous carcinoma and 156 cases of adenocarcinoma were identified, which included 105 patients in stage IA (50 patients with squamous carcinoma and 55 patients with adenocarcinoma) and 213 in stage IB (112 with squamous carcinoma and 101 with adenocarcinoma). Eighty-six tumors showed a presence of SY+ (27%). Univariate analysis showed lower survival rates at 5 years for those patients older than 70 years of age compared with those patients younger than 70 years of age (60.35% vs 70.57%; P = .007) and for those patients with SY+ compared with those with SY, (52.48% vs 72.68%; P = .0017). Patients with SY+ tumors showed a higher rate of recurrence than patients with SY, tumors (50% vs 33.6%; P = .008). Multivariate analysis showed that those patients greater that 70 years of age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14,2.65) and the presence of SY (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.40,3.30) were significant independent prognostic factors associated with a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS. Stage I of squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung with SY+ has a poor prognosis, with a higher frequency of recurrence and lower survival rates. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source]


The World Health Organization histologic classification system reflects the oncologic behavior of thymoma,

CANCER, Issue 3 2002
A clinical study of 273 patients
Abstract BACKGROUND Although the histologic classification of thymic epithelial tumors has been confusing and controversial, an agreement on the universal classification system for thymic epithelial tumors was achieved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999. The authors previously reported that the WHO histologic classification system reflects invasiveness and immunologic function of thymic epithelial tumors. In this subsequent study, they examined the prognostic significance of this classification system. METHODS Clinical features as well as postoperative survival of patients with thymoma, but not thymic carcinoma, were examined with reference to WHO histologic classification based on an experience with 273 patients over a 44-year period. RESULTS There were 18 type A tumors, 77 type AB tumors, 55 type B1 tumors, 97 type B2 tumors, and 26 type B3 tumors. In patients with type A, AB, B1, B2, and B3 tumors, the respective proportions of invasive tumor were 11.1%, 41.6%, 47.3%, 69.1%, and 84.6%; the respective proportions of tumors with involvement of the great vessels were 0%, 3.9%, 7.3%, 17.5%, and 19.2%; and the respective 20-year survival rates were 100%, 87%, 91%, 59%, and 36%. According to the Masaoka staging system, the 20-year survival rates were 89%, 91%, 49%, 0%, and 0% in patients with Stage I, II, III, IVa, and IVb disease, respectively. By multivariate analysis, the Masaoka staging system and the WHO histologic classification system were significant independent prognostic factors, whereas age, gender, association with myasthenia gravis, completeness of resection, or involvement of the great vessels were not significant independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that histologic appearance reflects the oncologic behavior of thymoma when the WHO classification system is adopted. The WHO classification system may be helpful in clinical practice for the assessment and treatment of patients with thymoma. Cancer 2002;94:624,32. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10225 [source]


Clinical significance of pretreatment serum amphiregulin and transforming growth factor-,, and an epidermal growth factor receptor somatic mutation in patients with advanced non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 11 2008
Katsuhiro Masago
Circulating amphiregulin and transforming growth factor-, (TGF-,) have been found to be correlated with an unfavorable response to gefitinib based on the identification of patients with a higher probability of resistance to the drug. However, the association between an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) somatic mutation and the overexpression of its ligands has not been determined. To verify the clinical significance of the two serum markers and EGFR mutation status, we determined serum amphiregulin and TGF-, levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 93 patients with advanced non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer and EGFR somatic mutation status using the peptic nucleic acid-locked nucleic acid clamp method in 46 cases. The relationship between each independent clinicopathological variable and the response to gefitinib therapy was examined. We also evaluated the risk factors associated with prognosis. Fourteen (41.0%) of 34 progressive disease cases were positive for amphiregulin (P = 0.007). Eleven (32.4%) of 34 progressive disease cases were positive for TGF-, (P = 0.005). The median survival time of patients with the EGFR somatic mutation was significantly longer (P = 0.01). The same was true of amphiregulin- (P = 0.046) and TGF-,-negative patients (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, serum TGF-, positivity (hazard ratio, 2.558; P = 0.005) and the wild type EGFR gene (hazard ratio, 1.894; P = 0.003) were significant independent prognostic factors. Our study demonstrates that the status of the serum EGFR ligand, in addition to EGFR activating mutation, is a predictive factor for response to gefitinib therapy. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 2295,2301) [source]