Objective To investigate the prognostic differences and decision-making role in postoperative radiotherapy of four molecular subtypes in pT1-2N1M0 stage breast cancer. Methods The clinicopathological data of 1526 patients with pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer treated at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. χ2 test was used to compare the clinicopathological features among patients with different molecular subtypes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were used to draw the survival curves and compare the overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) among patients with different molecular subtypes. Cox regression model was used to determine the influencing factors of OS of patients after radical mastectomy. Results Among the 1526 patients with pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer, there were 674 cases (44.2%) of Luminal A subtype, 530 cases (34.7%) of Luminal B subtype, 174 cases (11.4%) of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) overexpression subtype, and 148 cases (9.7%) of triple-negative subtype. The 5-year OS rates of Luminal A, Luminal B, Her-2 overexpression and triple negative patients were 98.6%, 94.3%, 95.5% and 91.2%, respectively (χ2=11.712, P=0.001), and the 5-year BCSS rates were 99.3%, 94.6%, 95.5% and 92.5%, respectively (χ2=18.547, P<0.001). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that menstrual status [hazard ratio (HR)=0.483, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.253, 0.923), P=0.028] and whether endocrine therapy [HR=2.021, 95%CI (1.012, 4.034), P=0.046] were prognostic factors for the 5-year OS rate of breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy (P<0.05). However, it failed to reveal that Luminal subtypes and postoperative radiotherapy were prognostic factors for the 5-year OS rate (P>0.05). Conclusions In pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer patients, the 5-year OS rate and 5-year BCSS rate in triple-negative patients are the lowest. The relationship between Luminal classification, postoperative radiotherapy and survival in patients after radical mastectomy needs further study in the future.
ObjectiveTo provide clinical reference for the perioperative management of esophageal cancer patients with different stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through investigating the impact of COPD on postoperative complications and survival in esophageal cancer patients undergoing oesophagectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 163 patients who underwent radical resection of esophageal cancer in our department from January 2015 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 124 males and 39 females, with a median age of 64 years (IQR: 23.8 years). They were divided into a COPD group (n=87) and a non-COPD group (n=76) according to the presence of COPD before operation. The clinical data were collected and the postoperative complications and 2-year survival between the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsThe incidence of major postoperative complications (pulmonary infection, respiratory failure, arrhythmia and anastomotic leakage) in the COPD group were higher than those in the non-COPD group (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the severity of preoperative COPD was positively correlated with the incidence of postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer (r=0.437, P<0.001). The incidence of postoperative respiratory failure and mortality in patients with severe COPD were significantly higher than those in patients without COPD and those with mild or moderate COPD. The 2-year survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer in the COPD group was lower than that in the non-COPD group (56.1% vs. 78.5.%, P=0.001), and the severity of COPD was negatively correlated to the survival rate.ConclusionCOPD significantly increases the incidence of postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer, which is not conducive to the prognosis of patients, and the severity of COPD is correlated with postoperative complications and 2-year survival rate.
ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic relevance of serum triglyceride (TG) levels in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods A retrospective data collection was conducted on patients diagnosed with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated ILD at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between February 2017 and July 2021. The clinical data, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations were collected, and the patients were followed up. According to the survival and death status of patients, they were divided into survival group and death group. According to TG levels, the patients were divided into a TG high level group and a TG low level group. We employed Cox proportional hazard models to investigate the variables linked to the mortality of individuals afflicted with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated ILD. Results A total of 204 patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated ILD were included. Among them, whose age ranged from 30 to 81 years old, with an average of (49.5±11.8) years old, there were 69 males and 135 females, 53 deaths and 151 survivors, 57 cases of rapidly progressive pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (RPILD) and 47 cases of non-RPILD. The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TG≥1.65 mmol/L, combined with RPILD, combined with dyspnea, age, lactate dehydrogenase≥321 U/L, and albumin<30 g/L were independent factors affecting the long-term prognosis of patients (P<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier method analysis results showed that the survival rate of the TG high level group was lower than that of the TG low level group (P=0.032). Conclusions Elevated TG levels can serve as a clinical indicator of adverse prognosis in patients with dermatomyositis-associated ILD who exhibit positive anti-MDA5 antibody status. Additionally, age, comorbidity with RPILD, combined with dyspnea, lactate dehydrogenase≥321 U/L, and albumin<30 g/L are independent factors contributing to the increased mortality risk among individuals with dermatomyositis-associated ILD who test positive for anti-MDA5 antibody.
ObjectiveTo detect expressions of Lgr5 and E-cadherin (E-cad) proteins in gastric cancer tissues and analyze their relationships with the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.MethodsThe expressions of Lgr5 and E-cad proteins in the 69 patients with gastric cancer and adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues were measured by the immunohistochemical SABC method, and the relationships between the Lgr5 or E-cad protein expression in the gastric cancer tissues and the clinicopathologic characteristics and the survival of patients with gastric cancer were analyzed.ResultsThe expressions of Lgr5 and E-cad proteins were positive in 60 cases (87.0%) and 30 cases (43.5%) of gastric cancer tissues, respectively, and in 5 cases (16.7%) and 30 cases (100%) of adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues. There was a significant difference in the positive rate of Lgr5 or E-cad protein expression in the different tissues, respectively (Lgr5 protein: χ2=45.814, P<0.001; E-cad protein: χ2=11.249, P=0.001). The positive rates of Lgr5 and E-cad protein expressions in the gastric cancer were related to the degree of differentiation and the depth of invasion. Meanwhile the positive rate of Lgr5 protein expression in the gastric cancer tissue was also related to the lymph node metastasis and Helicobacter pylori infection, while the positive rate of E-cad protein expression was not related to these (P>0.05). The 5-year total survival time had no significant difference in the patients between with positive and with negative expressions of Lgr5 protein (χ2=1.819, P=0.117), which had a significant difference in the patients between with positive and with negative expressions of E-cad protein (χ2=5.814, P=0.016). The positive expression of Lgr5 was negatively correlated with that of E-cad (rs=−0.355, P=0.003).ConclusionsLgr5 protein may get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion, lymph nodal metastasis, and low differentiation, while no relationship between the Lgr5 protein and prognosis has been confirmed. E-cad protein may get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion and affect the prognosis of patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and clinical significance of HOXB7 mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues.MethodsThe expressions of HOXB7 mRNA were evaluated in 6 cases of adjacent colorectal mucosal (ACRM) tissues and 6 cases of CRC tissues by using RT-PCR. The HOXB7 protein expressions were evaluated in 30 cases of ACRM tissues and 98 cases of CRC tissues by using immunohistochemistry. The correlations between the expression of HOXB7 protein, and the clinicopathologic factors or the patient’ survival were analyzed.ResultsRT-PCR results showed that expression level of HOXB7 mRNA in CRC tissues was significantly higher than that of ACRM tissues (P=0.003). Immunohistochemistry results showed that significantly higher positive-expression rate of HOXB7 protein in CRC tissues compared with ACRM tissues (P<0.05). Positive expression of HOXB7 protein was associated with depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the TNM stage (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that positive expression of HOXB7 protein was not inversely correlated with survival of CRC patients (P=0.865).ConclusionPositive expression of HOXB7 protein is a novel biomarker for estimating the progression of CRC, but remains of textual research may be to confirm the significance of HOXB7 protein for prognosis evaluation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of preoperative serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the overall survival (OS) of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy, in order to provide a possible evaluation basis for the clinical treatment and postoperative follow-up of ESCC patients. MethodsAGR, NLR, clinicopathological and follow-up data of ESCC patients diagnosed via pathology in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2010 to 2017 were collected. The correlation between NLR/AGR and clinicopathological data were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. The optimal cut-off values of AGR and NLR were determined by X-tile software, and the patients were accordingly divided into a high-level group and a low-level group. At the same time, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors affecting OS in the ESCC patients, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed and internally verified. The diagnostic efficacy of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve, and the clinical application value was evaluated by decision curve analysis. ResultsA total of 150 patients were included in this study, including 105 males and 45 females with a mean age of 62.3±9.3 years, and the follow-up time was 1-5 years. The 5-year OS rate of patients in the high-level AGR group was significantly higher than that in the low-level group (χ2=6.339, P=0.012), and the median OS of the two groups was 25 months and 12.5 months, respectively. The 5-year OS rate of patients in the high-level NLR group was significantly lower than that in the low-level NLR group (χ2=5.603, P=0.018), and the median OS of the two groups was 18 months and 39 months, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that AGR, NLR, T stage, lymph node metastasis, N stage, and differentiation were independent risk factors for the OS of ESCC patients. The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.689 [95%CI (0.640, 0.740)] after internal validation. The area under the ROC curve of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate was 0.773, 0.724 and 0.725, respectively. At the same time, the calibration curve and the decision curve suggest that the model had certain efficacy in predicting survival and prognosis. ConclusionPreoperative AGR and NLR are independent risk factors for ESCC patients. High level of AGR and low level of NLR may be associated with longer OS in the patients; the nomogram model based on AGR, NLR and clinicopathological features may be used as a method to predict the survival and prognosis of ESCC patients, which is expected to provide a reference for the development of personalized treatment for patients.
Survival data were widely used in oncology clinical trials. The methods used, such as the log-rank test and Cox regression model, should meet the assumption of proportional hazards. However, the survival data with non-proportional hazard (NPH) are also quite usual, which will decrease the power of these methods and conceal the true treatment effect. Therefore, during the trial design, we need to test the proportional hazard assumption and plan different analysis methods for different testing results. This paper introduces some methods that are widely used for proportional hazard testing, and summarizes the application condition, advantages and disadvantages of analysis methods for non-proportional hazard survival data. When the non-proportional hazard occurs, we need to choose the suitable method case by case and to be cautious in the interpretation of the results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and clinical significance of cytochromes b561 (CYB561) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsThe expression of CYB561 mRNA in HCC tissues and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed by database data. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of CYB561 protein in 61 matched HCC tissues and their adjacent tissues, and the relationship between CYB561 protein expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of HCC was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the correlation between the expression of CYB561 protein and the prognosis of HCC. ResultsThe analysis of database data showed that the relative expression of CYB561 mRNA in HCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Compared with HCC patients with negative expression of CYB561 mRNA, HCC patients with positive expression of CYB561 mRNA had worse overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival, progression-free survival and disease-free survival (all P<0.05). The results of IHC showed that the positive rates of CYB561 protein in HCC tissues and adjacent tissues were 57.38% (35/61) and 21.31%(13/61), respectively. The former was higher than the latter, with statistical significance (χ2=16.624, P<0.001). Survival analysis showed that the OS of patients with positive expression of CYB561 protein was worse than that of patients with negative expression (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that the positive expression of CYB561 protein was a risk factor for postoperative OS in HCC patients [HR=3.308, 95%CI (1.344, 8.144), P=0.009]. ConclusionCYB561 is positively expressed in HCC and suggests a worse survival, and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and construct a nomogram survival prediction model.MethodsThe patients with MBC from 2010 to 2013 were collected from surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database, then were randomly divided into training group and validation group by R software. SPSS software was used to compare the survival and prognosis of MBC patients with different metastatic sites in the training group by log-rank method and construct the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the factors of 3-year overall survival, then construct a nomogram survival prediction model by the independent prognostic factors. The C-index was used to evaluate its predictive value and the calibration curve was used to verify the nomogram survival prediction model by internal and external calibration graph.ResultsA total of 3 288 patients with MBC were collected, including 2 304 cases in the training group and 984 cases in the validation group. The data of the two groups were comparable. The median follow-up time of training group and validation group was 34 months and 34 months, respectively. In the training group, the results of Cox proportional hazards model showed that the older, black race, higher histological grading, without operation, ER (–), PR (–), HER-2 (–), and metastases of bone, brain, liver and lung were the risk factors of survival prognosis (P<0.05) and constructed the nomogram survival prediction model with these independent prognostic factors. The nomogram survival prediction showed a good accuracy with C-index of 0.704 [95%CI (0.691, 0.717)] in internal validation (training group) and C-index of 0.691 [95%CI (0.671, 0.711)] in external validation (validation group) in predicting 3-year overall survival. All calibration curves showed excellent consistency.ConclusionNomogram for predicting 3-year overall survival of patients with MBC in this study has a good predictive capability, and it is conducive to development of individualized clinical treatment.
Objective To make a survival analysis for the stage ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy, segmentectomy or wedge resection and to discuss whether the segmentectomy and wedge resection can be used as a conventional operation. Methods The clinical data of 474 patients diagnosed with ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer from January 2012 to June 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University were retrospectively anlyzed. There were 192 males and 282 females with a mean age of 60 years. Their sex, age, histological type, tumor size, surgical pattern, smoking, drinking, survival rate, disease-free survival rate, recurrence rate were compared. Results Disease-free survival rate of patients with wedge resection was significantly lower than that of the patients undergoing lobectomy and segmentectomy (P<0.05). When tumor diameter≤19 mm, the disease-free survival rate of patients with wedge resection was lower than that of patients with lobectomy (P=0.006) and segmentectomy (P=0.065). Disease-free survival rate of patients with tumor diameter of 20-<30 mm was significantly lower than that of patients with tumor diameter≤19 mm (P=0.026). Excluding patients with wedge resection, disease-free survival of the patients with lobectomy and segmentectomy and tumor diameter of 20-<30 mm was significantly lower than that of patients with tumor diameter≤19 mm (P=0.036). Patients with wedge resection had significant higher risk of local recurrence than that of patients undergoing lobectomy (P<0.001) and segmentectomy (P=0.002). Conclusion StageⅠA non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing segmentectomy can obtain approximate survival and disease-free survival rate compared with those with lobectomy, especially in patients with tumor diameter≤19 mm. Pulmonary wedge resection as surgical treatment of lung cancer patients must be selected carefully according to the actual situation and surgical purposes.