Pathologic response assessed by Mandard grade is a better prognostic factor than down staging for disease-free survival after preoperative radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer

Objective The reduction in tumour stage induced by full course radiotherapy plus chemotherapy is apparent from histological changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of complete pathological response and to evaluate the prognostic value for disease free survival (DFS) and disease specific survival (DSS) of the response. The relation between pretreatment variables (age, gender, stage, tumour height and [carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA)] and postsurgical variables was compared to the pathological response. Method A total of 119 patients with stage II or III rectal cancer underwent surgery 6 weeks after neoadjuvant treatment. Group A included patients with a complete or good pathological response (Mandard grade I–II) and group B patients with a poor response (Mandard grade III–IV–V).The pretreatment endo‐rectal ultrasound scan stage was compared with histopathology stage of the resected specimen. DFS and DSS were compared using the log‐rank test. Results All 119 patients (mean age 67.9 years, 83 males) underwent resection. The tumour was located in the upper, middle and lower third of the rectum in 11, 51 and 57 patients. 88 patients had a low anterior resection, 28 patients abdomino‐perineal resection and three a Hartmann’s operation. There was no postoperative death. The circumferential margin (CM) was involved in 10%. A complete pathological response was observed in 17 (14.2%) patients. Thirty‐six (30.2%) patients had a group A and 83 a group B response. Group A showed DFS to be significantly higher than group B (log rank: P = 0.007). The DSS rate was not significantly different between the two groups (log rank P = 0.113). Down‐staging was not related with DFS. No relation was found between pretreatment variables and response. A good pathological response was related to a lower rate of permanent colostomy but not with CM involvement or the number of lymph nodes. Conclusion Tumour regression of grades I or II was a good indicator of DFS in locally advanced rectal cancer, treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients with a high regression grade were associated with a lower incidence of definitive stoma formation. The regression grade was shown to be a better prognostic factor than down‐staging.     

T1期乳腺癌的临床病理特征及预后危险因素分析

背景与目的：T1期乳腺癌患者总体生存预后良好,但仍有少部分患者具有高度侵袭性,早期容易出现复发转移与死亡等不良生存结局,预后较差。本研究探讨影响T1期乳腺癌的临床病理特征及预后的危险因素,旨在早期识别高风险的T1期乳腺癌患者,为临床决策提供参考。方法：回顾性分析中南大学湘雅医院2011年1月—2015年12月经手术治疗的1 250例T1～T3期原发性浸润性乳腺癌患者资料,分析T1期与非T1期患者的临床病理学特征差异,单因素及多因素Cox风险模型分析影响T1期乳腺癌患者复发转移及死亡的危险因素,Kaplan-Meier法分析不同危险因素下T1期乳腺癌患者总生存（OS）和无病生存（DFS）的差异,Log-rank检验比较组间生存曲线差异。结果：1 250例原发性浸润性乳腺癌患者中,T1期261例（20.88%）,非T1期（T2和T3期） 989例（79.12%）。与非T1期比较,T1期患者BMI值低、腋窝淋巴结转移数目少、不利生物学特性少、生存预后好（均P<0.05）。T1期患者随访期间共15例死亡,40例出现复发转移。中位OS时间为94 (5～132)个月,2、5、10年OS率分别...     

Prognostic Effect of Perioperative Change of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level: A Useful Tool for Detection of Systemic Recurrence in Rectal Cancer

Background The prognosis of patients even with the same stage of rectal cancer varies widely. We analyzed the capability of perioperative change of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level for predicting recurrence and survival in rectal cancer patients. Methods We reviewed 631 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for stage II or III rectal cancer. Patients were categorized into three groups according to their serum CEA concentrations on the seventh day before and on the seventh day after surgery: group A, normal CEA level (≤5 ng/mL) in both periods; group B, increased preoperative and normal postoperative CEA; and group C, continuously increased CEA in both periods. The prognostic relevance of the CEA group was investigated by analyses of recurrence patterns and survival. Results Stage III patients showed higher systemic recurrence (P = .001) and worse 5-year survival rates (P < .0001) for group C than for groups A and B. On multivariate analysis, the CEA group was a significant predictor for recurrence (P < .001; relative risk, 2.740; 95% confidence interval, 1.677–4.476) and survival (P = .001; relative risk, 2.174; 95% confidence interval, 1.556–3.308). Conclusions The perioperative serum CEA change was a useful prognostic indicator to predict for systemic recurrence and survival in stage III rectal cancer patients.     

Predictive Value of the Number of Harvested Lymph Nodes and Cut-Off for Lymph Node Ratio in the Prognosis of Stage II and III Colorectal Cancer Patients

Purpose/aim: The appropriate staging of colorectal cancer requires at least 12 lymph nodes to be sampled. We evaluated whether lymph node sampling (LNS) and lymph node ratio (LNR) can predict the prognosis of stage II-III patients. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study on 432 patients classified in LNS ≥12 and LNS <12. Disease-free survival (DFS) was computed using the Kaplan–Meier method. We stratified stage III patients into 4 quartiles base on LNR values. To determine the optimal LNR cut-off, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Results: There was a positive association between the number of lymph node sampled and the number of metastatic lymph nodes (p < 0.01). Among stage II patients, the DFS was 81% for LNS ≥ 12 and 72% for LNS < 12 (p = 0.158). Among stage III patients, the DFS was 58% (p < 0.001). We found a significant association between LNR quartiles and relapse in stage III patients but only in the LNS ≥ 12 group. ROC curve analysis indicated an ideal LNR cut-off value at 0.194 (sensitivity 65% and specificity 61%). The DFS of patients with LNR below 0.194 was 71%, and that of patients with LNR above 0.194 was 45% (log-rank test, p < 0.001). In the patients with LNS ≥ 12, the cut-off of 0.257 could predict recurrence (specificity 86%). Conclusions: Stage II patients with LNS < 12 tend to have shorter DFS than stage II patients with LNS ≥ 12. In stage III patients, an appropriate LNR cut-off is a better prognostic predictor than LNR quartile, especially in patients with LNS ≥ 12.     

Treatment Strategy of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Significance of the Initial Nodal Manifestation

Background

Risk factors and treatment strategy in younger patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma are still controversial.

Methods

We reviewed 120 consecutive papillary thyroid carcinoma patients younger than 20 years who underwent initial surgery between 1977 and 2004 (14 male and 106 female subjects; mean age, 16.3 years; mean follow-up, 11.6 years). Outcomes were evaluated initially, and risk factors for disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed statistically. Cox proportional multivariate analysis revealed that initial nodal manifestation (P < .001, hazard ratio 2.97) was the most statistically significant risk factor for DFS. The outcomes were then compared between four subgroups on the basis of the initial nodal manifestation and node dissection: 17 patients in group A (no lymphadenopathy, no or only prophylactic central dissection), 30 patients in group B (no lymphadenopathy, prophylactic modified neck dissection, MND), 46 patients in group C (nonpalpable lymphadenopathy detected by radiological or operative findings, therapeutic MND), and 27 patients in group D (palpable lymphadenopathy, therapeutic MND).

Results

Subtotal/total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy were performed for 47.1 and 0% in group A, 33.3 and 0% in group B, 43.4 and 10.9% in group C, and 85.1 and 48.1% in group D, respectively. In groups A, B, C, and D, 0%, 3.3%, 28.3%, and 48.1% developed recurrence, respectively (P < .001). DFS Kaplan-Meier curves differed significantly among the four subgroups (P < .0005).

Conclusions

Initial nodal manifestation is useful to predict DFS in younger papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. Our findings will be beneficial to determine the treatment strategy. Conservative therapy is considered acceptable for patients without risk factors.     

h-prune Is an Independent Prognostic Marker for Survival in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background  The human homologue of Drosophila prune (PRUNE, which encodes h-prune) protein interacts with glycogen synthase kinase 3 and promotes cell motility. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of immunohistochemically detected h-prune expression on the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods  Immunohistochemical staining of h-prune was performed for 205 surgically resected specimens of ESCC. Results  In total, 43 (21%) of 205 ESCC cases were positive for h-prune. h-prune-positive ESCC cases showed a more-advanced T stage (P < 0.0001), N stage (P < 0.0001), and tumor stage (P < 0.0001) than h-prune-negative ESCC cases. In the group of 116 stage II and III ESCC cases, recurrence of ESCC was frequently found in h-prune-positive cases. In patients with lung recurrence, the tumors were more likely to be h-prune positive than h-prune negative. Univariate analysis revealed that T stage (P < 0.0001), N stage (P < 0.0001), tumor stage (P < 0.0001), and h-prune staining (P < 0.0001) were significant prognostic factors for survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that N stage (P = 0.0182) and h-prune staining (P < 0.0001) were independent predictors for survival. Conclusions  These results indicate that immunostaining of h-prune is useful to identify patients at high risk for recurrence or poor prognosis associated with ESCC.     

Impact of parenchymal preserving surgery on survival and recurrence after liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis

Background

This study aimed to investigate the impact of non‐anatomical liver resection (NAR) versus anatomical resection (AR) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), with regard to perioperative and long‐term outcomes.

Methods

Analysis of prospectively collected data for patients with CRLM who underwent either AR or NAR between January 1993 and August 2011 was performed. The impact of AR and NAR on morbidity, mortality, margin positivity, redo liver resections, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) was analysed.

Results

A total of 1574 resections for CRLM were performed. A total of 249 were redo resections and 334 patients underwent combined AR and NAR, hence, 583 were excluded. In total, 582 AR and 409 NAR were performed. The median age was 66 years (range 23.8–91.8). Median follow up was 32.2 months (interquartile range 17.5–56.9). The need for postoperative transfusion (11.6% versus 2.2%, P = <0.0001), overall complications (25% versus 10.7%, P < 0.0001) and 90‐day mortality (4.9% versus 1.2%, P < 0.0001) was higher in the AR group. R0 and R1 resection rates (AR 26.2% NAR 25%, P = 0.69) and number of patients with intrahepatic recurrence was similar between the two groups (AR 17.5% NAR 22%, P = 0.08). However, the need for redo liver surgery was higher in NAR group 15.4% versus 8.7% (P < 0.001). The OS (NAR 34.1 months versus AR 31.4 months, P = 0.002) and DFS were longer in the NAR group (NAR 18.8 months versus AR 16.9 months, P = 0.031).

Conclusions

A parenchymal preserving surgery (NAR) is associated with lower complication rates and better OS and DFS when compared with AR without compromising margin status. However, NAR increases the need for repeat liver resections.     

Risk Criteria and Prognostic Factors for Predicting Recurrences After Resection of Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Background The introduction of adjuvant imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) raised debate over the accuracy of National Institutes of Health risk criteria and the significance of other prognostic factors in GIST. Methods Tumor aggressiveness and other clinicopathological factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed in 335 patients with primary resectable CD117-immunopositive GISTs (median follow-up, 31 months after primary tumor resection) from a prospectively collected tumor registry. Results Overall median DFS was 37 months, and estimated 5-year DFS was 37.8 %. In univariate analysis, high or intermediate risk group (P < .000001), mitotic index >5/50 high-power field (P < .00001), primary tumor size >5 cm (P < .00001), nongastric primary location (P = .0001), male sex (P = .01), R1 resection/tumor rupture (P = .0003), and epithelioid cell or mixed cell pathological subtype (P = .05) negatively affected DFS. In multivariate analysis, statistically significant factors negatively influencing DFS for model 1 were mitotic index >5/50 high-power field (P = .004), primary tumor size >5 cm (P = .001), male sex (P = .003), R1 resection/tumor rupture (P = .04), and nongastric primary tumor location (P = .02), and for model 2 were high/intermediate risk primary tumor (P < .0001 and P = .008, respectively), male sex (P = .007), resection R1/tumor rupture (P = .01), and nongastric primary tumor location (P = .02). Five-year DFS for high, intermediate, and low/very low risk group was 20%, 54%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions The risk criteria for assessing the natural course of primary GISTs were validated, but additional independent prognostic factors—primary tumor location and sex—were also identified.     

Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Resectable Liver Metastases: Monocentric Management in a Hepatobiliary Referral Center Improves Survival Outcomes

Background

Management of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (SCRLM) should be individually tailored. This study compares patients managed by hepatobiliary centers from diagnosis with those referred for liver resection (LR).

Methods

Between 1998 and 2010, a total of 284 patients with SCRLM underwent resection; 106 resectable patients (1–3 unilobar metastases, diameter <100 mm, liver-only disease) were divided into two groups: 66 managed from diagnosis (group A) and 40 referred for LR (group B).

Results

Group A contained a greater proportion of multiple metastases (55.0 vs. 34.8 %, P = 0.042). Group B always received colorectal surgery as up-front treatment (vs. 18.2 %, P < 0.0001). In group B, chemotherapy before LR was more common (72.5 vs. 33.3 %, P = 0.0001) and lasted longer (P = 0.010). More patients in group B exhibited disease progression before LR (17.5 vs. 3.0 %, P = 0.025). Group A underwent fewer surgical procedures (80.3 % simultaneous resection vs. 0 %, P < 0.00001), with similar short-term outcomes. After a median follow-up of 42.0 months, group A exhibited higher 5 year disease-free survival (DFS, 64.8 vs. 30.8 %, P = 0.005) and fewer extrahepatic recurrences (21.5 vs. 47.5 %, P = 0.005). The late-referral group (>6 months, n = 24) had shorter median overall survival (OS) and DFS than group A (49.1 and 25.3 months vs. not achieved and not achieved, P < 0.05). The early-referral group exhibited OS and DFS similar to group A. Multivariate analysis confirmed late referral as a negative predictive factor of OS and DFS.

Conclusions

Monocentric management of SCRLM in hepatobiliary centers is associated with shorter preoperative chemotherapy, better disease control, fewer surgical procedures (simultaneous resection), and, compared with late-referred patients, better survival.     

Extracellular Matrix 1 (ECM1) Expression Is a Novel Prognostic Marker for Poor Long-Term Survival in Breast Cancer: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study in Iowa

Introduction  Previous work in a small, unselected series showed that up to 83% of breast carcinomas overexpress ECM1 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and that tumors with lymph node metastases are more likely to be ECM1-positive. We sought to further evaluate ECM1 expression and its effect on prognosis in an unselected cohort of patients with breast cancer. Methods   ECM1 expression was examined by IHC in 134 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1986 and 1989 and correlated with clinical parameters and outcomes, including disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results  During follow-up, 83 of 134 (66%) patients died. The median follow-up was 211 (range, 183–245) months for surviving patients. Based on a previously described cutoff of 10% staining, 47% of breast cancers were ECM1-positive. ECM1-positive tumors were associated with increasing patient age (P = 0.01). In multivariate analyses, while controlling for age, ER status, tumor grade, stage, and treatment, ECM1 expression emerged as a significant predictor of DSS (hazard ratios, 4.16 (P = 0.009) and 11.6 (P = 0.01) at 10 and 15 years, respectively) and DFS (hazard ratio, 3.08 (P = 0.03) at 15 years) with ECM1 overexpression predicting poorer survival. Conclusions   ECM1 was overexpressed in approximately half of invasive breast carcinomas and is an important prognostic marker, particularly for predicting poorer DSS, with its predictive value increasing with time from diagnosis. Further work is needed to confirm these findings and determine whether ECM1 expression is predictive of response to specific therapy.     

Validation of the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor‐node‐metastasis (AJCC TNM) staging in patients with stage II and stage III colorectal carcinoma: analysis of 2511 cases from a medical centre in Korea

Aim The sixth and seventh editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) system for patients with stage II and stage III colorectal carcinoma (AJCC‐6 and AJCC‐7) were compared. Method Between 2000 and 2007, 2511 stage II/III colorectal carcinoma patients received primary surgical resection at the Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea). All patients were staged using AJCC‐6 and AJCC‐7 TNM systems. Patients with synchronous or other cancers, those given preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy and those in whom fewer than 12 lymph nodes were resected, were excluded. Overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were compared. Results Of 2511 patients, 255 (10.2%) had different stages in the AJCC‐6 and AJCC‐7. For the AJCC‐7, the 5‐year OS by stage was 94.2% for stage IIA, 88.8% for stage IIB, 83.5% for stage IIC, 91.8% for stage IIIA, 81.8% for stage IIIB and 72.0% for stage IIIC. The OS and the DFS were not significantly different for the new substages IIB (n = 57) and IIC (n = 34) (P = 0.34 and P = 0.87, respectively). For the 187 patients with stage T3N2a cancer, the OS and the DFS were significantly different from stage IIIB other than T3N2a (P = 0.008 and P = 0.01, respectively) and there were no statistically significant differences in OS between the T3N2a group and the IIIC group (P = 0.46). Conclusion The study indicates that AJCC‐7 has better prognostic validity than AJCC‐6 for staging of patients with stage II and stage III colorectal carcinoma.     

Pathologic Nodal Status Predicts Disease-Free Survival After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Gastroesophageal Junction Carcinoma

Background The incidence of carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is rapidly increasing, and the prognosis remains poor. We examined outcomes in patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation for GEJ tumors to identify factors that predict disease-free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of 101 consecutive patients who received chemoradiation and surgery for GEJ carcinoma between 1992 and 2001. Results The median DFS and OS of all patients were 16 and 25 months, respectively. Twenty-eight patients with a complete histological response (T0N0) experienced greater DFS compared with all others (P = .02). Node-negative patients, regardless of T stage, experienced improved median DFS (24 months) compared with N1 patients (9 months; P = .01). Preoperative stage, age, tumor location, or Barrett’s esophagus did not independently predict OS by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only posttreatment nodal status (P = .03)—not the degree of primary tumor response—predicted DFS. Conclusions The nodal status of patients with GEJ tumors after neoadjuvant therapy is predictive of DFS after resection. The poor outcome in node-positive patients supports postneoadjuvant therapy nodal staging, because surgical aggressiveness should be tempered by the realization that cure is unlikely and median survival is short. Presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Francisco, California, May 19–22, 2002.     

The impact of lymph node yield on Duke’s B and C colorectal cancer survival

Aim The number of positive lymph nodes retrieved following colorectal cancer (CRC) resection impacts on the staging and further treatment of the disease. We compared 5‐year survival by lymph node yield for Duke’s B and C patients to assess the impact on prognosis. Method A retrospective methodology was employed to review patients who underwent operative resection for Duke’s B or C CRC between 1999 and 2003. Results A total of 351 patients were included in our analyses. Lymph node yield, N‐stage and extramural vascular invasion were independent predictors of overall 5‐year survival. A significant difference in 5‐year survival by lymph node yield was seen among Duke’s B patients (< 9 nodes vs≥ 9 nodes, 45.2%vs 68.4%; P = 0.0043) and Duke’s C patients (< 10 nodes vs≥ 10 nodes, 25.6%vs 48.8%; P = 0.0099). There was a significant reduction in the relative risk of 2.8% in mortality for each additional node sampled in Duke’s B and C patients (RR 0.972, 95% confidence interval 0.949–0.994, P = 0.0102). Duke’s B patients who had < 9 lymph node yield and no neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment had a similar survival to all Duke’s C patients (47.8%vs 41.7%, P = 0.5136). Conclusion Lymph node yield independently predicts for survival in patients with Duke’s B and C CRC. Duke’s B patients with < 9 lymph node yield have no better survival than patients with Duke’s C disease. Therefore, prospective randomized studies are required to examine if inadequate lymph node yield could be one of the deciding factors in offering adjuvant therapy among Duke’s B cancer patients.     

Ki-67 Expression Gives Additional Prognostic Information on St. Gallen 2007 and Adjuvant! Online Risk Categories in Early Breast Cancer

Background  We sought to determine the significance of Ki-67, one of the tumor cell proliferation markers, as a useful prognostic factor in early breast cancer. Methods  A total of 1080 consecutive patients with stage I or II breast cancer that underwent surgery between 1998 and 2003 were enrolled. Patients were categorized on the basis of the 2007 St. Gallen consensus and Adjuvant! Online. The expression of Ki-67 in the tumor was assayed by immunohistochemistry (cutoff value, 10%). Results  Univariate analysis determined that tumor size, lymph node involvement, histologic grade, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, bcl-2, and Ki-67 (≥10%) were statistically significant for both overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DFS). Of these factors, lymph node involvement and high Ki-67 expression were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS on the basis of multivariate analysis. The survivals of intermediate- and high-risk groups according to 2007 St. Gallen consensus were further separated by Ki-67 expression level (5-year DFS rate = 91.9% vs. 86.3% for Ki-67 < 10% and ≥10%, respectively in intermediate-risk group (P = .01); 5-year DFS rate = 82.5% vs. 61.4% for Ki-67 < 10% and ≥10%, respectively in high-risk group (P = .01)). The survivals of low- and high-risk groups according to Adjuvant! Online were further separated by Ki-67 expression level (5-year DFS rate = 97.8% vs. 89.5% for Ki-67 < 10% and ≥10%, respectively in low-risk group (P = .02); 5-year DFS rate = 9.4% vs. 82.6% for Ki-67 < 10% and ≥10% in high-risk group (P = .005)). Conclusions  Ki-67 is an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS in early breast cancer and can provide additional prognostic information on the risk stratification with the use of the 2007 St. Gallen consensus and Adjuvant! Online. S.-Y. Jung and W. Han contributed equally to this work.     

The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and tumor recurrence and progression in high-grade stage T1 bladder urothelial carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin (E-CD) and tumor recurrence and progression in patients with high-grade stage T1 urothelial carcinoma of bladder. Methods Fifty-two patients who had primary high-grade stage T1 urothelial carcinoma were enrolled to the study. The pathologic specimens of patients were evaluated and staged as T1a and T1b according to muscularis mucosae involvement by the tumor. The immunohistochemical demonstration of E-CD was accomplished by using immunoperoxidase method and all the specimens were examined under light microscope for E-CD level. Results The mean age of the patients was 64.0 ± 7.7 (range 36–81) years. The mean follow-up period was 56.4 ± 19.4 (range 14–84) months. Among 52 patients, 27 (52%) of them were stage T1b and 25 (48%) were T1a tumors. The recurrence rates for T1a and T1b groups were 52% (n = 13) and 92.6% (n = 25), respectively (P < 0.05). The expression of E-CD was homogenous in 52% of pT1a and 14.8% of T1b tumors (P < 0.05). In T1a group with recurrence, homogeneous E-CD staining ratio was 30.7% (n = 4/13), but it was 75% (n = 9/12) in T1a patients without recurrence (P < 0.05). In T1b group with recurrence, the homogenous expression of E-CD was 12% (n = 3/25) and the expression of E-CD was heterogenous in 88% (n = 22/25) of them (P < 0.05). In T1a group, progression of the disease was detected in 28% (n = 7/25) of the patients, but disease progression was seen in 55.5% (n = 15/27) of T1b group patients (P < 0.05). In T1a group with progression, heterogeneous E-CD staining ratio was 85.7% (n = 6/7), but it was 80% (n = 12/15) in T1b patients with progression. The effects of tumor number, tumor size and carcinoma in situ presence on recurrence were evaluated within each group. It was determined that parameters such as tumor number and tumor size had no significant effect on recurrence of the groups. The mean survival rates were statistically different between the groups. On multivariate analysis only E-cadherin expression (P = 0.012, odds ratio 6.291, 95% confidence interval for odds ratio 1.303–4.72) and tumor stage (P = 0.003, odds ratio 11.58, 95% confidence interval for odds ratio 2.446–8.542) remained independently significant as predictors of recurrence. Conclusion E-CD expression was decreased in pathologic specimens of bladder tumor patients with muscularis mucosae involvement and this condition correlated well with tumor recurrence.     

Survival outcomes in men receiving androgen‐deprivation therapy as primary or salvage treatment for localized or advanced prostate cancer: 20‐year single‐centre experience

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) in men receiving primary androgen‐deprivation therapy (PADT) or salvage medical ADT (SADT) for prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After Institutional Review Board approval, we retrospectively reviewed patients receiving ADT for prostate cancer between July 1987 and June 2007. Variables included age at diagnosis and ADT induction, race, PSA level before ADT, ADT schedule (continuous/intermittent), clinical/pathological stage, hormone‐refractory prostate cancer (HRCP) status, PADT or SADT, and deaths.

RESULTS

In all, 548 men were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis and ADT induction were 70.1 and 72.3 years, respectively, and 321 (58.6%) were African‐American. The median PSA level before ADT was 16.3 ng/mL. ADT was administered continuously in 497 (90.7%) patients; 342 (62.4%) received PADT while 206 (37.6%) received SADT. At mean (range) follow‐up of 81.8 (2.1–445) months, 98 (17.9%) deaths occurred; 31 (31.6%) were cancer‐specific. The OS and DSS in the PADT and SADT groups were not significantly different (P = 0.36 and P = 0.81, respectively). Mortality rates/distributions were similar between groups (P = 0.68). Multivariate predictors of OS and DSS included age at diagnosis (P = 0.03) and ADT induction (P = 0.009), tumour stage (P < 0.001), and PSA level at ADT induction (P = 0.01). Progression to HRPC worsened OS and DSS (both P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

PADT and SADT prolong survival in men with prostate cancer. HRPC portends a poor DSS. Age at diagnosis and ADT induction, PSA level before ADT, and disease stage predict both OS and DSS in this population. However, most men died from causes unrelated to prostate cancer, thus questioning the true value of ADT in prolonging patient survival.     

Efficacy of Postoperative Transarterial Chemoembolization and Portal Vein Chemotherapy for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Complicated by Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis—a Randomized Study

Objectives The aim of this single, randomized study was to explore the efficacy of postoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein chemotherapy (PVC) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated by portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and to evaluate prognostic factors. Methods The study cohort consisted of 112 patients with HCC and PVTT randomly divided into three groups: Group A (37 patients), operation only; Group B (35 patients), operation plus TACE; Group C (40 patients), operation plus TACE and PVC. Disease-free survival rates and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results Most of the side effects and complications were related to the operation, catheters, and local chemotherapy and included liver decompensation (15.0%), catheter obstruction (11.6%), and nausea and loss of appetite (22.1%). The disease-free survival curve was significantly different among the three groups, as estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method (both P < 0.05). Group C showed a significantly higher disease-free survival rate than Group A (P < 0.05), but no statistical differences were found between group A and group B, and group B and group C (both P > 0.05). Tumor size, tumor number, PVTT location, and treatment modalities were independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion Postoperative TACE combined with PVC may benefit the survival of patients with HCC complicated by PVTT in the short-term (less than 60 months), but long-term efficacy is not yet certain and needs to be confirmed by further studies.     

Risk factors for renal insufficiency in children with urethral valves

Posterior urethral valves (PUV) associated with renal dysplasia are one of the most common causes of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in childhood. In order to identify risk factors for the progression of this condition to early renal failure, we have retrospectively analyzed the clinical course, renal function, and first postnatal renal ultrasound in a sample of 42 young male patients with PUV, who were followed at a single center. Twelve (28.6%) were diagnosed with ESKD at a median age of 11.3 years. Our comparison of PUV patients without decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (group A; K/DOQI CKD stage 0–1) with PUV patients showing a decreased eGFR (group B; K/DOQI CKD stage 2–5) revealed the following significant risk factors for loss of eGFR: renal volume <3rd percentile (P < 0.001), elevated echogenicity (P = 0.001), pathologic corticomedullary differentiation (P < 0.001), >3 febrile urinary tract infections (P = 0.012), and decreased eGFR at 1 year of age (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in the cohort confirms that patients showing a renal volume >88.2 ml/m² body surface area (BSA) are not at risk to develop K/DOQI CKD stage 5 (sensitivity 75%, specificity 77.3%, positive/negative predictive value 37.5/94.4%). Ultrasound promises to be a valuable tool for identifying endangered patients.