术前NLR水平对TACE联合MWA治疗的巨块型原发性肝癌患者生存时间的影响*

目的 探讨术前中性粒细胞数与淋巴细胞数比率(NLR)对行经动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)联合微波消融(MWA)治疗的巨块型肝细胞癌(HCC)患者生存时间的影响。方法 2007年1月～2013年10月我院收治行TACE联合MWA治疗的巨块型HCC患者87例,根据术前NLR水平分为≥2.37者47例和NLR＜2.37者40例,比较两组生存时间。结果 高NLR组患者男性比例为78.7%,≥55岁比例为29.8%,肿瘤直径为(7.1±1.2) cm,Child-Pugh A级比例为61.7%,血清白蛋白水平≥35 g/L者比例为34.0%,血清ALT水平＞40 U/L者比例为76.7%,AST水平＞40 U/L者比例为53.2%,AFP水平≥200 μg/L 者比例为59.6%,与低NLR组的80.0%、27.5%、(6.9±1.1)cm、62.5%、30.0%、75.0%、57.5%和57.5%相比,差异无显著性(P >0.05);治疗后,低NLR组1 a、2 a和3 a生存率分别为92.5%(37/40)、62.5%(25/40)和20.0%(8/40),均显著高于高NLR组的55.3%(26/47)、31.9%(15/47)和8.5%(4/47,P <0.05);高NLR组和低NLR组患者中位生存时间分别为13(11～17)个月和28(23～33)个月(P <0.05)。结论 术前NLR值可用于行TACE联合MWA治疗的巨块型HCC患者生存时间的预测,术前外周血中性粒细胞计数水平太高,一定存在一些影响预后的不良因素,应认真予以解决。     

肝细胞癌发病危险因素Logistic回归分析*

目的 探讨肝细胞癌发病的危险因素。方法 2019年1月～2021年1月青海省第四人民医院消化科和青海大学附属医院介入科确诊为肝细胞癌(HCC)患者150例,收集患者临床资料,采用Logistic回归分析法行单因素和多因素分析。结果 单因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄、肝癌家族史、饮酒史、血小板计数、HBsAg阳性、血清HBV DNA和肝硬化等7个因素具有显著性意义,多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄(P=0.001,OR=1.077)、肝癌家族史(P=0.008,OR=4.351)、血小板计数异常(P=0.004,OR=9.071)、HBsAg阳性(P＜0.001,OR=16.418)、HBV DNA(P=0.004,OR=6.345)和肝硬化(P＜0.001,OR=9.315)为HCC发生的独立危险因素。结论 了解HCC发生的危险因素有助于预防,及时抗病毒和预防肝硬化的发生可能非常有意义。     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者血红蛋白水平变化及其临床意义

目的 探讨血红蛋白升高与非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)发生风险的相关性。方法 利用1995年～1996年宝钢职工体检资料,收集血糖、血脂和血红蛋白等指标,对6540例无脂肪肝人群随访6年,分析基线血红蛋白水平与NAFLD发生风险之间的相关性。结果 在随访过程中,106例基线贫血患者新发NAFLD 2例(1.9%),5884例基线血红蛋白正常者新发645例(11.0%),550例基线血红蛋白升高患者新发116例(21.1%);Cox单因素回归分析结果显示不同血红蛋白水平者NAFLD发生率不同(血红蛋白升高组与贫血组比,HR=11.18,95% CI:2.76～45.23,P=0.001;血红蛋白正常组与贫血组比,HR=5.81,95% CI:1.45～23.28,P=0.013);经Cox多因素回归分析结果显示男性(HR=1.465,95% CI:1.114～1.928,P=0.006)、体质指数(HR=1.298,95% CI:1.259～1.320,P<0.001)、高甘油三酯血症(HR=1.781,95% CI:1.533～2.068,P<0.001)和血红蛋白水平(HR=1.008,95% CI:1.002～1.015 P=0.014)是影响NAFLD发生的独立危险因素。结论 血红蛋白升高与NAFLD发病相关,早期筛查Hb有助于风险提示,其相关机制值得进一步研究。     

荧光腹腔镜肝切除术与常规腹腔镜肝切除术治疗HCC患者效果比较

目的 研究荧光腹腔镜肝切除术与常规腹腔镜肝切除治疗肝细胞癌(HCC)患者的临床效果。方法 2014年8月～2017年8月我院收治的148例HCC患者被随机分为观察组74例和对照组74例,分别行荧光腹腔镜肝切除术和常规腹腔镜肝切除术。随访3年。结果 观察组切缘肿瘤细胞阳性率为2.7%,显著低于对照组的13.5%(x²=5.804,P=0.016);两组围术期胸腔积液、发热、切口感染、胆漏和腹腔出血等并发症发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);观察组6 m、1 a和2 a生存率分别为98.6%、94.6%和90.5%,与对照组的95.9%、93.2%和86.5%比,无显著性差异(P＞0.05),但3 a生存率为85.1%,显著高于对照组的70.3%(P＜0.05);观察组3 a肿瘤复发率为27.0%,显著低于对照组的47.3%(P＜0.05)。结论 与常规腹腔镜肝切除术比,采用荧光腹腔镜肝切除术能实现肿瘤切缘的可视化,保证肿瘤切缘安全,有利于提高HCC患者生存率。     

基于多数据库分析肝细胞癌组织FAM49B基因水平及其临床意义

目的 利用多数据库分析肝细胞癌(HCC)组织FAM49B基因水平及其临床意义。方法 利用Oncomine和GEPIA数据库分析HCC组织与正常肝组织FAM49B基因水平,从TCGA获取临床病例资料,应用SPSS 21.0软件统计分析不同临床和病理学特征的HCC组织FAM49B基因水平的异同。自Kaplan Meier Plotter数据库分析不同FAM49B基因水平的HCC患者预后的异同,自MethHC数据库分析FAM49B启动子区甲基化水平,利用String数据库分析与FAM49B相互作用的蛋白网络,采用基因集富集分析(GSEA)预测FAM49B在HCC发病过程中可能的信号调控通路。结果 对Oncomine和GEPIA数据库分析显示HCC组织FAM49B基因水平显著高于正常肝组织(P均<0.01);不同性别(P=0.001)、有无肝硬化(P=0.003)、不同肿瘤分化程度(P=0.004)的HCC组织FAM49B基因水平显著不同,而不同年龄、肿瘤大小、病理学分期、甲胎蛋白水平和有无脉管侵犯者无显著性差异(P均>0.05);与FAM49B低水平患者比,FAM49B高水平患者总体生存期显著缩短,具有统计学意义(HR=1.8,P=0.0012);与正常肝组织相比,HCC组织FAM49B启动子区甲基化水平显著降低(P＜0.005);与FAM49B相互作用的蛋白有SERPINA1、ISLR和FERMT3;在FAM49B mRNA高水平组织富集到细胞凋亡、细胞周期、调节自噬和P53信号通路等相关基因集(P均<0.05)。结论 FAM49B在HCC组织呈高水平,其基因水平与HCC恶性程度和患者不良预后相关,可能作为癌基因在HCC发生发展过程中发挥作用,有望成为HCC诊断及预后评估的新靶点。     

肝细胞癌患者TACE治疗前后血清miR-145水平变化及其临床意义

目的 探讨肝细胞癌(HCC)患者在经导管动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)治疗前后血清microRNA-145(miR-145)水平变化及其临床意义。方法 2013年1月～2015年12月我院收治的72例HCC患者和同期60例健康体检者,采用qRT-PCR法检测血清miR-145水平,采用ROC曲线分析血清miR-145和甲胎蛋白(AFP)预测不良预后的价值。结果 在治疗1个月末,16例(22.2 %)为PR,13例(18.1%)为SD,43例(59.7 %)为PD;HCC组血清miR-145水平为(0.59±0.25),显著低于对照组【(1.02±0.28),P＜0.05】,术后1个月,HCC患者血清miR-145水平为(0.81±0.26),显著高于术前(P＜0.05);不同性别、年龄、肿瘤直径、肿瘤分化、癌栓和Child-Pugh分级患者血清miR-145水平无显著性差异(P＞0.05),而不同TNM分级和术前AFP水平患者之间差异显著(P＜0.05); PD组血清miR-145水平为(0.86±0.21),显著高于PR组或SD组【分别为(0.62±0.19)和(0.75±0.19),P＜0.05】;随访3年,28例(38.9%)患者死亡,其中高miR-14 水平患者3 a生存率为75.6 %,显著高于低水平患者的41.9 %(x²=8.765,P＜0.05);血清miR-145、AFP和miR-145联合AFP预测HCC不良预后的曲线下面积分别为0.871、0.851和0.942,两者联合预测的敏感度为91.7 %,准确度为90.2%。结论 TACE术后检测血清miR-145水平可能预示HCC患者预后较好。     

超声引导下经皮射频消融治疗小肝癌患者疗效及预后分析*

目的 比较超声引导下经皮射频消融与肝切除术治疗小肝癌患者的疗效及分析影响生存的危险因素。方法 2011年1月~2015年4月在我院接受治疗的107例肝细胞癌（HCC）患者,接受超声引导下射频消融治疗58例,接受肝叶切除术治疗49例。术后随访3年,采用Cox单因素和多因素回归分析影响HCC患者生存的独立危险因素。结果 治疗后,射频消融患者血清ALT水平显著低于肝切除术组（P<0.05）,而血清ALB水平显著高于肝切除术组（P<0.05）;两组术后并发症发生率（10.3%对16.3%）比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;射频消融治疗患者1 a、2 a和3 a总生存率分别为84.5%（49/58）、65.5%（38/58）和44.8%（26/58）,而肝切除术组则分别为85.7%（42/49）、67.3%（33/49）和46.9%（23/49）,差异不具有统计学意义（x²=0.032,P=0.859;x²=0.040,P=0.842;x²=0.048,P=0.827）; Cox单因素分析结果显示肿瘤数目（HR=0.372,95%CI:0.105~0.876,P=0.033）与HCC患者无瘤生存时间有关,而血清AFP水平（HR=3.043,95%CI:1.007~5.248,P=0.035）、肿瘤数目（HR=0.871,95%CI:0.344~0.902,P=0.401）和肿瘤直径（HR=1.631,95%CI:1.273~3.045,P=0.005）与HCC患者总生存时间有关;Cox多因素回归分析结果显示肿瘤数目多（HR=0.087,95%CI:0.045~0.498,P=0.009）是影响HCC患者无瘤生存的独立危险因素,而肿瘤分化低（HR=2.974,95%CI:1.865~4.097,P=0.046）、肿瘤数目多（HR=0.062,95%CI:0.033~0.378,P=0.002）和肿瘤直径大（HR=2.216,95%CI:1.778~5.026,P=0.007）是影响HCC患者总生存时间的独立危险因素。结论 超声引导下经皮射频消融治疗与肝切除术治疗小肝癌患者的临床疗效相当,但射频消融治疗创伤小,术后恢复快,对肝功能的影响小。     

基于2018年版肝脏影像报告数据系统对比分析CT和MRI诊断肝细胞癌的效能*

目的 比较CT和MRI按照2018年版肝脏影像报告数据系统(LI-RADS)诊断肝细胞癌(HCC)的效能。方法 2017年9月～2020年7月四川省肿瘤医院诊治的有HCC高危因素的72例患者(HCC 53例、非HCC恶性肿瘤10例、良性病变9例),接受CT和MRI检查。根据2018年版LI-RADS定义的影像学征象和分类法则,对所有病灶进行分类,采用kappa一致性检验两种检查方法的分类结果,以组织病理学检查结果为金标准,比较CT和MRI诊断HCC的ROC曲线下面积(AUC),计算LR-5类诊断HCC的敏感性和特异性。结果 CT和MRI的LI-RADS分类结果一致性较好,kappa值为0.693【(95%CI:0.545～0.841),P＜0.001】;两种检查方法诊断HCC的AUC分别为0.827(95%CI: 0.708～0.946)和0.856(95%CI: 0.761～0.952),差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);以LR-5为阳性,MRI诊断HCC的敏感性为81.1%(43/53),显著高于CT诊断的66.0%(35/53),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);CT和MRI诊断HCC的特异性分别为78.9%(15/19)和89.5%(17/19),差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);在LI-RADS定义的主要征象中,MRI对强化包膜的显示率为40.3%,显著高于CT的5.5%(P＜0.001)。结论 基于肝脏影像报告数据系统,CT和MRI诊断HCC有相当高的效能,而MRI诊断肝细胞癌的敏感性高于CT,特别在显示强化病灶包膜方面优于CT。     

TACE联合131I美妥昔单克隆抗体灌注治疗原发性肝癌患者近期疗效研究

目的 探讨经肝动脉栓塞化疗(TACE)介入术时加入¹³¹I美妥昔单克隆抗体灌注治疗原发性肝癌患者的近期疗效及影响预后的因素。方法 2016年8月～2017年12月我院治疗的原发性肝癌患者84例,被分成对照组42例和观察组42例,分别给予TACE介入术治疗和在TCACE术灌注化疗药物后继续给予¹³¹Ⅰ美妥昔单克隆抗体灌注。术后随访12个月,采用多元Logistics回归分析影响患者预后的危险因素。结果 在治疗后3个月,观察组疾病缓解率和疾病控制率分别为73.8%和90.5%,显著高于对照组的50.0%和73.8%(P<0.05);观察组不良反应发生率为28.6%,与对照组的33.3%比,差异无统计学意义(P<0.05);术后,观察组血清甲胎蛋白水平为(418.7±67.3)ng/ml,显著低于对照组【(504.7±71.5)ng/ml,P<0.05】,而血清白蛋白水平为(37.7±3.4)g/L,显著高于对照组【(34.2±3.3)g/L,P<0.05】;在治疗后12个月,观察组死亡7例(16.7%),对照组死亡12例(28.6%,P<0.05);经多元Logistics回归分析,存在门静脉癌栓、肿瘤直径 >5 cm和TNM分期Ⅳ期是导致患者出现不良预后的危险因素(OR=2.354,P=0.027;OR=2.670,P=0.011;OR=3.071,P=0.004)。结论 在采用TACE治疗原发性肝癌患者时,加入¹³¹I美妥昔单克隆抗体灌注有助于提高近期疗效,但对存在门静脉癌栓、肿瘤直径 >5 cm和TNM分期较晚的患者,治疗效果仍较差。     

肝细胞癌癌组织caspase-3和DcR3蛋白及SNHG12 mRNA水平变化及其临床意义探讨*

目的 研究肝细胞癌(HCC)患者癌组织半胱氨酰天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)和诱捕受体3(DcR3)蛋白表达及小分子核仁宿主基因12(SNHG12)mRNA水平变化及其临床意义。方法 2016年5月～2019年5月我院收治的68例HCC患者,行肝叶切除术治疗,取癌组织和癌旁肝组织,采用EnVision法检测caspase-3和DcR3蛋白表达,采用RT-qPCR法检测SNHG12 mRNA水平,应用Logistic多元回归分析影响HCC患者死亡的危险因素。结果 HCC患者癌组织caspase-3阳性率为47.1%,显著低于癌旁组织的77.9%(P＜0.05),而DcR3阳性率为61.8%,SNHG12 mRNA水平为(2.9±0.8),显著高于癌旁组织【分别为33.8%和(1.6±0.5),P＜0.05】;18例有淋巴结转移的癌组织caspase-3阳性率为33.3%,显著低于50例无淋巴结转移者的62.0%(P＜0.05),而DcR3蛋白阳性率为88.9%,显著高于无淋巴结转移者的50.0%,SNHG12 mRNA水平为(2.6±0.4),显著高于无淋巴结转移者【(1.5±0.3),P＜0.05】,45例肿瘤直径>5 cm癌组织SNHG12 mRNA水平为(2.7±0.4),显著高于23例无淋巴结转移者【(1.4±0.3),P＜0.05】;随访结束时,本组68例HCC患者生存30例(44.1%),死亡38例(55.9%);多元Logistic回归分析显示,肿瘤直径大、合并肝硬化、存在淋巴结转移、Caspase-3低表达、DcR3高表达和SNHG12高水平是HCC患者死亡的危险因素。结论 HCC患者癌组织存在基因水平和蛋白表达的显著变化,了解这些变化并探讨其临床意义,将为肝癌防治提供有价值的线索。     

应用超声单模态融合成像技术指导微波消融治疗原发性肝癌即时疗效评价的价值研究*

目的 研究超声单模态融合成像技术在微波消融治疗原发性肝癌(PLC)患者中的应用价值。方法 2018年3月～2019年12月我院诊治的88例PLC患者,其中44例采用超声单模态融合成像(观察组),另44例采用CT/MRI多模态融合成像(对照组)指导微波消融治疗。结果 观察组配准评估时间为(3.8±1.3)min,显著短于对照组【(5.2±1.7)min, P<0.05】,观察组和对照组融合成像成功率分别为63.6%和56.8%,无显著性差异(P>0.05);在44例观察组发现52个病灶,单模态融合成功36个病灶(69.2%),在44例对照组发现54个病灶,多模态融合成功32个病灶(59.3%),两组病灶融合成功率比较,无显著性差异(P>0.05);两组肿瘤完全消融率分别为97.7%和93.2%,无显著性差异(P>0.05);观察组消融治疗后发热、局部疼痛、胆道出血和胆漏并发症发生率分别为9.1%、20.5%、4.5%和0.0%,与对照组的13.6%、27.3%、9.1%和2.3%比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);随访3～20个月,观察组生存32例(72.7%),总体生存(OS)为15.1(5.0,20.0)个月,无进展生存(PFS)为12.8(4.9,20.0)个月,对照组生存32例(72.7%),OS为14.2(4.8,20.0)个月,PFS为13.3(4.7,20.2)个月(Log rank x²=0.592, P=0.442;x²=1.103,P=0.294)。结论 超声单模态融合成像与CT/MRI多模态融合成像均可用于指导微波消融治疗PLC患者,但超声单模态融合成像更为简便,经济,可提供即时影像学资料,为后续治疗提供依据。     

Alcohol,postprandial plasma glucose,and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To identify factors associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) after initial therapy.METHODS:A total of 377 HCC patients who were newly treated at Katsushika Medical Center,Japan from January 2000 to December 2009 and followed up for > 2 years,or died during follow-up,were enrolled.The factors related to survival were first analyzed in 377 patients with HCC tumor stage T1-T4 using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.A similar analysis was performed in 282 patients with tumor stage T1-T3.Additionally,factors associated with the period between initial and subsequent therapy were examined in 144 patients who did not show local recurrence.Finally,214 HCC stage T1-T3 patients who died during the observation period were classified into four groups according to their alcohol consumption and postprandial glucose levels,and differences in their causes of death were examined.RESULTS:On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis,the following were significantly associated with survival:underlying liver disease stage [non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,hazard ratio(HR):0.603,95% CI:0.417-0.874,P = 0.0079],HCC stage(T1/T2 vs T3/T4,HR:0.447,95% CI:0.347-0.576,P < 0.0001),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.181,95% CI:0.067-0.488,P = 0.0008).In T1-T3 patients,uninterrupted alcohol consumption after initial therapy(no vs yes,HR:0.641,95% CI:0.469-0.877,P = 0.0055) was significant in addition to underlying liver disease stage(non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,HR:0649,95% CI:0.476-0.885,P = 0.0068),HCC stage(T1 vs T2/T3,HR:0.788,95% CI:0.653-0.945,P = 0.0108),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 mg/dL vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.502,95% CI:0.337-0.747,P = 0.0005).In patients without local recurrence,time from initial to subsequent therapy for newly emerging HCC was significantly longer in the "postprandial glucose within 200 mg/dL group" than the "postprandial glucose > 200 mg/dL group"(l     

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with obstructive colorectal cancer: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

AIM: To investigate the long-term oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer(CRC) at multiple Japanese institutions.METHODS: We identified 362 patients diagnosed with obstructive colorectal cancer from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2012 in Yokohama Clinical Oncology Group's department of gastroenterological surgery. Among them, 234 patients with stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ disease who had undergone surgical resection of their primary lesions were analyzed, retrospectively. We report the long-term outcomes, the risk factors for recurrence, and the prognostic factors.RESULTS: The five-year disease free survival and cancer-specific survival were 50.6% and 80.3%, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed the ASAPS(HR = 2.23, P = 0.026), serum Albumin ≤ 4.0 g/d L(HR = 2.96, P = 0.007), T4 tumor(HR = 2.73, P = 0.002) and R1 resection(HR = 6.56, P = 0.02) to be independent risk factors for recurrence. Furthermore, poorly differentiated cancers(HR = 6.28, P = 0.009), a T4 tumor(HR = 3.46, P = 0.011) and R1 resection(HR = 6.16, P = 0.006) were independent prognostic factors in patients with obstructive CRC.CONCLUSION: The outcomes of patients with obstructive CRC was poor. T4 tumor and R1 resection were found to be independent prognostic factors for both recurrence and survival in patients with obstructive CRC.     

Efficacy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin regimen for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma following local treatments

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOx) for extrahepatic metastasis after local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Thirty-two patients with extrahepatic metastasis of HCC after local treatment were prospectively enrolled. The CapeOx regimen consisted of capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 taken orally twice daily on days 1-14, and oxaliplatin was administered at a total dose of 100 mg/m 2 on day 1. The treatment was repeated every 3 wk until disease progression or unaccetablle toxicity. Efficacy and safety were assessable for all enrolled patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the overall response rate. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the overall survival (OS), the time to tumor progression (TTP) and the toxicity profile of the combined strategy. TTP and OS were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between the curves were analyzed using the log-rank test. The statistical software SPSS version 15.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States) was used for statistical analysis. All P values were 2-tailed, with statistical significance defined byP ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were assessable for efficacy and toxicity. The median follow-up duration was 15 mo (range, 12-20 mo). At the cut-off date of March 31, 2012, 27 patients died due to tumor progression and one patient died of myocardial infarction. Four patients were still alive (three patients with disease progression). OR was 21.9% (n = 7), the stabilization rate was 40.6% (n = 13), and the disease control rate was 62.5%. The responses lasted from 4 to 19 mo (median, 6 mo). Median TTP was 4.2 mo (95%CI: 2.5-7.4), and the median OS time was 9.2 mo (95%CI: 6.5-17.8). The 1-year survival rate was 43.6% (95%CI: 29.0-66.0). In a multivariate analysis, OS was significantly longer in patients with a Child-Pugh class A compared with class B patients (P = 0.014), with a median OS of 10.1 mo vs 5.4 mo, and there were trends towards longer OS (P = 0.065) in     

Twist2 is a valuable prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the significance of Twist2 for colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: In this study, 93 CRC patients were included who received curative surgery in Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital from January 1999 to December 2010. Records of patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and follow up data were reviewed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were used to observe the protein expression of Twist2 and E-cadherin by immunohistochemistry. Two independent pathologists who were blinded to the clinical information performed semiquantitative scoring of immunostaining. A total score of 3-6 (sum of extent + intensity) was considered as Twist2-positive expression. The expression of E-cadherin was divided into two levels (preserved and reduced). An exploratory statistical analysis was conducted to determine the association between Twist2 expression and clinicopathological parameters, as well as E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, the variables associated with prognosis were analyzed by Cox’s proportional hazards model. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to plot survival curves according to different expression levels of Twist2. RESULTS: Twist2-positive expression was observed in 66 (71.0%) samples and mainly located in the cytoplasm. Forty-three (46.2%) samples showed reduced expression of E-cadherin. There were no significant correlations between Twist2 expression and any of the clinicopathological parameters. However, Twist2-positive expression was significantly associated with reduced expression of E-cadherin (P=0.040). Multivariate analysis revealed that bad M-stage [hazard ratio (HR)=7.694, 95%CI: 2.927-20.224,P < 0.001] and Twist2-positive (HR=5.744, 95%CI: 1.347-24.298,P=0.018) were the independent risk factors for poor overall survival (OS), while Twist2-positive (HR=3.264, 95%CI: 1.455-7.375, P=0.004), bad N-stage (HR=2.149, 95%CI: 1.226-3.767, P=0.008) and bad M-stage (HR=10.907, 95%CI: 4.937-24.096, P < 0.001) were independently associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS     

First-line erlotinib and fixed dose-rate gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer

AIM: To investigate activity, toxicity, and prognostic factors for survival of erlotinib and fixed dose-rate gemcitabine (FDR-Gem) in advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We designed a single-arm prospective, multicentre, open-label phase Ⅱ study to evaluate the combination of erlotinib (100 mg/d, orally) and weekly FDR-Gem (1000 mg/m 2 , infused at 10 mg/m 2 per minute) in a population of previously untreated patients with locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Primary endpoint was the rate of progression-free survival at 6 mo (PFS-6); secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), response duration, tolerability, overall survival (OS), and clinical benefit. Treatment was not considered to be of further interest if the PFS-6 was < 20% (p0 = 20%), while a PFS-6 > 40% would be of considerable interest (p1 = 40%); with a 5% rejection error (α = 5%) and a power of 80%, 35 fully evaluable patients with metastatic disease were required to be enrolled in order to complete the study. Analysis of prognostic factors for survival was also carried out. RESULTS: From May 2007 to September 2009, 46 patients were enrolled (male/female: 25/21; median age: 64 years; median baseline carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9): 897 U/mL; locally advanced/metastatic disease: 5/41). PFS-6 and median PFS were 30.4% and 14 wk (95%CI: 10-19), respectively; 1-year and median OS were 20.2% and 26 wk (95%CI: 8-43). Five patients achieved an objective response (ORR: 10.9%, 95%CI: 1.9-19.9); disease control rate was 56.5% (95%CI: 42.2-70.8); clinical benefit rate was 43.5% (95%CI: 29.1-57.8). CA 19-9 serum levels were decreased by > 25% as compared to baseline in 14/23 evaluable patients (63.6%). Treatment was well-tolerated, with skin rash being the most powerful predictor of both longer PFS (P < 0.0001) and OS (P = 0.01) at multivariate analysis (median OS for patients with or without rash: 42 wk vs 15 wk, respectively, Log-rank P = 0.03). Additional predictors of better outcome were: CA 19-9 reducti     

Preoperative defining system for pancreatic head cancer considering surgical resection

AIM: To provide appropriate treatment, it is crucial to share the clinical status of pancreas head cancer among multidisciplinary treatment members. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 113 patients who underwent surgery for pancreas head cancer from January 2008 to December 2012 was performed. We developed preoperative defining system of pancreatic head cancer by describing "resectability- tumor location- vascular relationship- adjacent organ involvement- preoperative CA19-9(initial bilirubin level)- vascular anomaly". The oncologic correlations with this reporting system were evaluated.RESULTS: Among 113 patients, there were 75 patients(66.4%) with resectable, 34 patients(30.1%) with borderline resectable, and 4 patients(3.5%) with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Mean disease-free survival was 24.8 mo(95%CI: 19.6-30.1) with a 5-year diseasefree survival rate of 13.5%. Pretreatment tumor size ≥ 2.4 cm [Exp(B) = 3.608, 95%CI: 1.512-8.609, P = 0.044] and radiologic vascular invasion [Exp(B) = 5.553, 95%CI: 2.269-14.589, P = 0.002] were independent predictive factors for neoadjuvant treatment. Borderline resectability [Exp(B) = 0.222, P = 0.008], pancreatichead cancer involving the pancreatic neck [Exp(B) = 9.461, P = 0.001] and arterial invasion [Exp(B) = 6.208, P = 0.010], and adjusted CA19-9 ≥ 50 [Exp(B) = 1.972 P = 0.019] were identified as prognostic clinical factors to predict tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: The suggested preoperative defining system can help with designing treatment plans and also predict oncologic outcomes.     

Blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts survival after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score-based analysis

AIM: To investigate whether an elevated preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) can predict poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 526 patients with HCC who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2011.RESULTS: Preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81 was an independent predictor of poor disease-free survival(DFS, P 0.001) and overall survival(OS, P = 0.044). Compared with patients who showed a preoperative NLR 2.81 and postoperative increase, patients who showed preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81 and postoperative decrease had worse survival(DFS, P 0.001; OS, P 0.001). Among patients with preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81, survival was significantly higher among those showing a postoperative decrease in NLR than among those showing an increase(DFS, P 0.001; OS, P 0.001). When elevated, alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) provided no prognostic information, and so preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81 may be a good complementary indicator of poor OS whenever AFP levels are low or high.CONCLUSION: Preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81 may be an indicator of poor DFS and OS in patients with HCC undergoing surgery. Preoperative NLR ≥ 2.81 may be a good complementary indicator of poor OS when elevated AFP levels provide no prognostic information.