nab-Paclitaxel for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer and poor prognostic factors: a retrospective analysis

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) has demonstrated clinical benefit in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in a randomized phase III trial versus paclitaxel (CA012; N = 454) and in a randomized phase II trial versus docetaxel (CA024; N = 300). This retrospective analysis examines whether patients with poor prognostic factors demonstrate similar outcomes to the intent-to-treat (ITT) populations in these trials. This retrospective analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of previously untreated patients with MBC with the following poor prognostic factors: visceral dominant metastases and short disease-free interval (DFI; ≤2 years). In CA012 (n = 186 first-line patients), nab-paclitaxel demonstrated a significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) versus paclitaxel in patients with visceral dominant metastases (42 vs. 23 %; P = 0.022), whereas the higher ORR for nab-paclitaxel in patients with a short DFI (43 vs. 33 %; P = NS) was not statistically significant. In CA024, a significantly higher ORR for nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m² versus docetaxel was observed in patients with visceral dominant metastases (76 vs. 37 %; P < 0.001). No significant differences in ORR were observed in patients with a short DFI. Although progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival showed trends similar to ORR, statistical significance was only achieved for comparisons of PFS in patients with visceral dominant metastases in CA024 (13.1 months for nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m² vs. 7.8 months for docetaxel [P = 0.019] and 7.5 months for nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m² [P = 0.010]). Safety results were similar to previous reports of the ITT populations. nab-Paclitaxel demonstrated similar efficacy in patients with poor prognostic factors as in the ITT populations of these two trials. In each trial, ORR was significantly higher for nab-paclitaxel versus the comparator taxane among patients with visceral dominant metastases.     

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer of each subtype: a multicenter retrospective analysis

To define prognostic factors for breast cancer patients with brain metastases, compare their clinical courses and prognoses according to breast cancer subtypes, and analyze the causes of death in such patients. We retrospectively analyzed 1,466 patients diagnosed with brain metastases between April 1, 2001 and December 31, 2012, from 24 institutions of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group. Overall, 1,256 patients with brain metastases were included. The median overall survival (OS) was 8.7 months (95 % confidence interval [CI] 7.8–9.6 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that patients diagnosed with brain metastasis within 6 months of metastatic breast cancer diagnoses, asymptomatic brain disease, or HER2-positive/estrogen receptor-positive tumors had increased OS. Median OS after the development of brain metastases was 9.3 months (95 % CI 7.2–11.3) for the luminal type, 16.5 months (95 % CI 11.9–21.1) for the luminal-HER2 type, 11.5 months (95 % CI 9.1–13.8) for the HER2 type, and 4.9 months (95 % CI 3.9–5.9) for the triple-negative type. Luminal-HER2 type patients had significantly longer OS than patients with the luminal type (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.50, P < 0.0001) and triple-negative type (HR = 1.97, P < 0.0001); no significant differences were noted compared to HER2-type patients (HR = 1.19, P = 0.117). The prognosis and clinical course of patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer before and after developing brain metastases vary according to subtype. Focusing on the subtypes of breast cancer can optimize the prevention, early detection, and improved treatment of brain metastases.     

乳腺癌骨转移患者临床病理特征及预后影响因素分析：基于SEER数据库的回顾性研究

目的探讨乳腺癌骨转移患者的临床病理特征,并分析其预后情况及相关影响因素。 方法根据纳入及排除标准,利用美国国立癌症研究所监测、流行病学和结果(SEER)数据库检索并筛选1975年1月至2016年12月5 815例转移性乳腺癌患者资料进行回顾性分析,评估了患者临床病理特征、治疗方式及其预后。其中,乳腺癌骨转移组3 146例,乳腺癌非骨转移组2 669例。按照预后情况,将3 146例乳腺癌骨转移患者分为2个亚组：死亡组1 669例和存活组1 477例。利用χ²检验和Mann-Whitney U检验比较骨转移和非骨转移组患者临床病理特征的差异;用二元Logistic回归分析乳腺癌骨转移的影响因素;用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析,并用单因素log-rank检验分析乳腺癌骨转移患者中死亡组与存活组临床病理特征的差异;用多因素Cox比例风险回归模型筛选影响乳腺癌骨转移者生存情况的独立因素。 结果骨转移组和非骨转移组患者在T分期、N分期、组织学分级、人种、ER、PR、HER-2、肿瘤分子分型和预后方面比较,差异均有统计学意义(Z＝-5.71、-2.39、-13.87、χ²＝14.55、305.74、245.56、69.34、335.36、79.15,P均<0.050),2组间年龄、性别和原发灶位置比较,差异均无统计学意义(χ²＝0.57、2.71、0.45,P均>0.050)。Logistic回归分析结果显示：ER阳性、PR阳性、肿瘤T分期高和N分期高为导致乳腺癌患者骨转移的危险因素(OR＝1.775,95%CI：1.258～2.505,P＝0.001;OR＝1.425,95%CI: 1.236～1.643,P<0.001;OR＝1.095,95%CI：1.043～1.149,P<0.001;OR＝1.396,95%CI: 1.246～1.564,P<0.001),而组织学分级越高,发生骨转移的风险反而越小(OR＝0.815,95%CI：0.733～0.907,P<0.001)。骨转移组与非骨转移组患者的OS比较,差异均具有统计学意义(χ²＝133.53,P<0.001)。骨转移患者中,2个亚组(死亡组和存活组)患者在T分期、N分期、组织学分级、年龄、ER、PR、HER-2、肿瘤分子分型、原发灶手术、放射治疗和化疗方面比较,差异均有统计学意义(Z＝-7.75、-3.22、-8.14、χ²＝39.80、69.81、87.45、51.87、132.47、36.24、6.05、36.24,P均<0.050)。Cox比例风险回归模型多因素分析结果显示：年龄、T分期、N分期、PR、HER-2、肿瘤分子分型、组织学分级、化疗、放射治疗和原发灶手术是影响骨转移组患者预后的独立因素(HR＝1.349,95%CI: 1.195～1.523,P<0.001;HR＝1.151,95%CI: 1.101～1.203,P<0.001;HR＝ 1.077,95%CI: 1.033～1.123,P<0.001;HR＝ 0.715,95%CI: 0.626～0.817,P<0.001;HR＝0.695,95%CI: 0.627～0.770,P<0.001;HR＝1.349,95%CI: 1.260～1.414,P<0.001;HR＝1.371,95%CI: 1.261～1.489,P<0.001;HR＝0.626,95%CI：0.562～0.697,P<0.001;HR＝0.874,95%CI：0.791～0.966,P＝0.008;HR＝0.663,95%CI: 0.561～0.784,P<0.001)。 结论乳腺癌骨转移患者预后优于非骨转移患者,与年龄、T分期、N分期、PR、HER-2、肿瘤分子分型、组织学分级有关,治疗方面原发灶手术、放射治疗和化疗有助于改善骨转移患者的预后。     

Treatment results and prognostic factors of early breast cancer treated with a breast conserving operation and radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors affecting local control and survival rates for patients with early breast cancer who received breast conserving treatment (BCT) and to find out the optimal treatment according to their risk factors. METHODS: From October 1994 to December 2001, 605 patients with 611 stage I and II breast cancers received BCT, and the results were analyzed retrospectively. BCT consists of breast conserving surgery and whole breast irradiation. All the patients underwent lumpectomy or quadrantectomy. Axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 608 cases (99.5%). The radiation dose to the whole breast was 50.4 Gy over 5 weeks with a 1.8 Gy daily fraction and with boost doses of 9-14.4 Gy administered to the tumor bed. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed in most of the patients with axillary lymph node metastasis or tumors larger than 1 cm. The median follow-up period was 47 months. RESULTS: Local relapse, regional relapse and distant metastasis occurred in 15 (2.5%), 16 (2.6%) and 43 patients (7.1%), respectively. The 5-year overall survival, local-relapse-free survival, distant-metastasis-free survival and disease-free survival rates were 95.3%, 97.2%, 91.3% and 88.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, age (P = 0.02), number of involved axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.01) and nuclear grade (P = 0.01) affected the local-relapse-free survival. The factors associated with disease-free survival were the T stage (P = 0.05), number of involved axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.01) and nuclear grade (P = 0.001). Overall survival was associated with the T stage (P = 0.02), number of involved axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.01) and c-erb B2 overexpression (P = 0.05). Patients with more than two factors among (i) age 1 cm, (ii) positive lymph node metastasis and (iii) high nuclear grade showed an inferior 5-year disease-free survival rate compared with others (P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The most important prognostic factor affecting local control, disease-free survival and overall survival was axillary lymph node metastasis. The nuclear grade influenced local control and disease relapse. Patients with multiple unfavorable risk factors such as positive axillary lymph nodes, high nuclear grade, young age and large tumor showed poorer local control and disease-free survival than patients without any risk factors, and so more aggressive treatment is required for these patients.     

Her-2 prognostic value in very early-stage breast cancer: a single-institution retrospective analysis

To evaluate overall survival, distant metastases-free survival and local relapse-free survival rates in a subgroup of patients affected by breast cancer expressing Her-2/neu. Data of 195 women affected by very early-stage breast cancer (pT1a-b pN0) who underwent whole breast radiotherapy after conservative surgery with or without chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy between January 2000 and December 2006 were evaluated. Chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of variables (age, tumour histology, oestrogens and progesterone receptors, tumour grading and adjuvant chemotherapy) between Her-2-positive and Her-2-negative patients. Survival rates were analysed with Kaplan–Meier curves; impact of variables on poor outcome was evaluated with Cox regression method. Median follow-up time was 63.5 months (range 13.8–113.6). Her-2/neu-positive patients (32/16.4%), compared to Her-2/neu-negative patients (163/83.6%), were younger (P = 0.0001), were affected by ductal infiltrating carcinoma (P = 0.039), had negative oestrogens receptors (P = 0.0001) and were not treated with chemotherapy (P = 0.001). Her-2-positive patients had lower overall survival (P = 0.00001) and lower distant metastases-free survival (P = 0.00001) compared to Her-2-negative patients, but no difference in local relapse-free survival was found between the two groups (P = 0.28). After multivariate analysis, Her-2-positive status was a prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.00001) and for distant metastases-free survival (P = 0.0001), but not for local relapse-free survival (P = 0.97). Her-2-positive patients have lower overall survival and distant metastases-free survival when compared to Her-2 negative patients but similar local relapse-free survival rates. These patients could be treated with conservative surgery, if feasible, but should receive more aggressive and tailored systemic adjuvant therapies.     

Hepatic resection in metastatic breast cancer: results and prognostic factors.

AIMS: Breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM) usually indicate the presence of disseminated cancer with a very poor prognosis. However, systemic treatments now allow control of tumour progression in certain cases. We evaluated, in a group of highly selected patients with stabilization or complete response to systemic therapy, a particular management protocol for medically controlled BCLM: liver surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients underwent surgery between May 1988 and September 1997. Results of this strategy are reported, together with analysis of prognostic factors for survival and recurrence in the remaining liver (RRL). RESULTS: The mean number of cycles of chemotherapy, before surgery, was seven (3-24). Resection was considered to be curative in 86% of cases. The median follow-up was 23 months (1-72 months). The survival after surgery, was 86% at 12 months, 79% at 24 months and 49% at 36 months. The 36-month survival rate differed according to the time to onset of BCLM: 45% before versus 82% after 48 months (P=0.023). The RRL rate at 36 months differed according to the lymph node status of the initial breast cancer: 41% for N0-N1 versus 83% for N1b-N2 (P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant liver surgery allowed discontinuation of chemotherapy in 46% of cases and, in this highly selected patient group, allowed good quality prolonged survival. It could be included in multicentre treatment protocols for controlled BCLM, one arm with prolonged chemotherapy, one with adjuvant liver surgery.     

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of ovarian fibrosarcoma: the results of a multi-center retrospective study

Background  

Ovarian fibrosarcomas are very rare tumors, and therefore, few case studies have evaluated the prognostic factors of this disease. To our knowledge, this study represents the largest study to evaluate the clinical and pathologic factors associated with ovarian fibrosarcoma patients.     

Clinicopathological prognostic factors for gallbladder carcinoma: a retrospective study

BackgroundGallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is an uncommon neoplasm with poor long-term survival. Worldwide the incidence rates vary according to geographic area. The multifactorial aetiology and the rarity of the disease limits the studies to improve outcomes in patients, since the treatment remains mostly surgical. The aim of this study was to identify clinicopathological prognostic factors for survival in patients with GBC submitted to surgery in our institution—a tertiary centre in Portugal. Also, to assess the expression of possible biomarkers (HER2, CD44 and ALDH1) in GBC, as well as the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) tumours.MethodsClinicopathological characteristics of 41 consecutive patients that underwent surgical resection for GBC (2008–2019) at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological factors were assessed and an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was done. Microsatellite stability (MSS) was considered if there was maintenance of nuclear expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression was evaluated according to the rules applied for gastric cancer and expression of CD44 and ALH1 was evaluated in order to detect cancer stem cells (CSC). Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression was used to find prognostic factors.ResultsIncidence of GBC in our cohort of patients was 0.45%, most commonly affecting females. Median overall survival (OS) was 23 months with a 39.6% 5-year survival rate. Stage > II [hazard ratios (HR) =8.58; P=0.007], lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (HR =4.06; P=0.045) and hepatic resection (HR =0.288; P=0.034) independently influenced survival. HER2 positivity and high expression of CD44 or ADLH1 did not show significant influence in survival (P=0.649, P=0.868 and P=0.914, respectively), although HER2 and ALDH1 positive patients showed a tendency to a shorter OS, compared to negative patients. We found no relation between these biomarkers expression and disease stage. All analysed samples had MSS.ConclusionsGBC patients with a worse prognosis can be identified. The overexpression of HER2 could select patients for targeted therapy and prompt tissue sampling in unresectable patients.     

Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in metastatic breast cancer

Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted on data collected from the records of 619 patients with metastatic breast cancer in whom an Adriamycin-containing chemotherapeutic regimen was used. Using a forward, stepwise logistic regression procedure, several models or equations in which a small number of pretreatment factors were incorporated were generated and the probability of response to therapy was accurately predicted. The predictive ability of these models was tested retrospectively in 546 of the 619 patients from whom the data were derived and prospectively in a new population of 200 patients with metastatic breast cancer also treated with a therapeutically equivalent Adriamycin combination. Using similar univariate techniques, pretreatment factors were correlated with the length of survival after therapy. The proportional hazard model of Cox was used to develop a regression model relating survival to pretreatment characteristics in much the same manner as that of the response model. The total population of the initial group of patients was divided according to four levels of hazard ratio, and survival distributions were compared. This model also was tested progressively and its predictive capability was confirmed. The prediction of individual outcome is a valuable capability in the comparison of clinical trials and the continuing evaluation of biologic changes in patients with metastatic carcinoma; such a method is described in this paper.     

Ewing's sarcoma. A retrospective study of prognostic factors and treatment results

A material of 87 consecutive patients with Ewing's sarcoma referred for treatment in the period 1962-1983 was retrospectively analysed. Thirteen patients had metastases at the time of diagnosis. Of the remainder, 71 received radiation therapy and 32 adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival rate was not influenced by age, sex or treatment delay. Metastatic disease predictably shortened survival (median 6 months vs. 23 months for localized disease). Tumour site did not significantly influence survival rate, although pelvic localization was associated with a slightly shorter median survival. Both pain and objective impairment of movement at presentation correlated to a poorer prognosis, possibly because of larger tumours or soft tissue extension. Adjuvant chemotherapy prolonged recurrence-free survival from a median of 6 months to 16 months, but survival was not improved significantly. Local failure occurred in about 40 per cent, regardless of radiation dose and tumour site. At the time of evaluation, 13 patients (15%) were alive with no evidence of disease and a median follow-up time of 68 months (range 16-196). So far, 2 patients have developed secondary malignancies in irradiated areas (one malignant fibrous histiocytoma and one osteogenic sarcoma).     

Gonadotropin and steroid receptors as prognostic factors in advanced ovarian cancer: a retrospective study

Introduction  

Ovarian cancer is a chemosensitive tumour, but two thirds of women have a recurrence during the follow-up, even after an optimal surgical debulking followed by chemotherapy with a platinum and a taxane compound. Cytotoxic drugs are used in a second- or third-line setting but tumour progression is the rule. Also patients with the same histology achieve different outcomes in terms of survival. We decided to study gonadotropin and steroid receptors and to consider if these histological markers could select patients with different prognosis.     

89例乳腺癌脑转移患者的预后生存分析

目的探讨乳腺癌脑转移患者预后生存的影响因素。方法回顾分析1999年1月至2009年12月中国医学科学院肿瘤医院收治的89例乳腺癌脑转移患者的临床资料,其中HER-2阳性患者24例,HER-2阴性患者65例,分析ER、PR、TNM分期、淋巴结转移状态、Karnofsky评分、病情进展、脑转移情况、治疗措施等因素对乳腺癌脑转移生存期的影响。结果全组患者平均年龄49.0岁(23~74岁),确诊脑转移后中位生存期8.6个月(0.2~61.5个月)。单因素分析显示,乳腺癌脑转移患者HER-2表达阳性者与阴性者1年生存率分别为12.5%和46.2%(P=0.003),中位生存期分别为6.3个月和10.9个月(P=0.003);Karnofsky评分≥60分患者和<60分患者比较,1年生存率分别为43.5%和15.0%(P=0.017),中位生存期分别为10.1个月和5.3个月(P=0.019);非综合治疗组与综合治疗组1年生存率分别为21.6%和48.1%(P=0.014),中位生存期分别为6.0和13.6个月(P=0.006);内分泌治疗组与未采用内分泌治疗组1年生存率分别为66.7%和32.5%(P=0.027),中位生存期分别为29.3个月和8.5个月(P=0.003)。Cox多因素分析提示,HER-2表达状态、Karnofsky评分及是否综合治疗影响患者生存及预后。结论 HER-2表达状态、Karnofsky评分及脑转移后是否综合治疗是影响乳腺癌脑转移生存预后的因素,综合治疗有助于改善预后,延长生存。     

男性乳腺癌的临床病理特征和预后分析

目的 分析男性乳腺癌(MBC)患者的临床病理特征,并探讨影响其预后的因素.方法 对23例MBC患者的病历资料进行回顾性分析.采用Kaplan-Meier法计算患者的生存率,并对影响患者预后的危险因素进行分析.结果 23例MBC患者的发病年龄为37~82岁,中位年龄61.6岁;肿瘤平均直径为3.8 cm.全组患者的3年、5年、10年总生存率分别为84.0%、61.6%、54.8%;3年、5年、10年无病生存率分别为63.1%、51.6%、51.6%.单因素分析结果显示,TNM分期、原发肿瘤大小、腋窝淋巴结是否转移对MBC患者的5年总生存率和无病生存率均有影响(P﹤0.05);激素受体状态对MBC患者的5年生存率有影响(P﹤0.05),对MBC患者的5年无病生存率无影响(P﹥0.05).结论 TNM分期、原发肿瘤大小、腋窝淋巴结是否转移是影响MBC患者5年总生存率和无病生存率的预后因素;激素受体状态是影响MBC患者5年生存率的预后因素.早期诊断及综合治疗是延长MBC患者生存期的关键.     

Lumpectomy with or without postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer with favourable prognostic features: results of a randomized study

The aim of this trial was to study the value of adding post-operative radiotherapy to lumpectomy in a subgroup of breast cancer patients with favourable patient-, tumour-, and treatment-related prognostic features. 152 women aged over 40 with unifocal breast cancer seen in preoperative mammography were randomly assigned to lumpectomy alone (no-XRT group) or to lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy to the ipsilateral breast (50 Gy given within 5 weeks, XRT group). All cancers were required to be invasive node-negative, smaller than 2 cm in diameter and well or moderately differentiated, to contain no extensive intraductal component, to be progesterone receptor-positive, DNA diploid, have S-phase fraction 相似文献   

Local recurrence after breast conserving therapy for invasive breast cancer: analysis of prognostic factors

Background

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of breast conservation therapy for patients with cancer. There are several factors associated with local recurrence but none are considered absolute contraindication for breast conserving therapy except multifocal carcinoma. This single-institution series investigates the effects of multiple factors on local relapse-free survival after breast-conserving therapy for women with invasive cancer.

Methods

One-hundred and ninety-two patients (193 cancers) with invasive carcinoma underwent breast-conserving therapy (surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy if indicated) at University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital from 1986 through 1995. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate curves for local recurrence. The log rank statistic test was used for statistical comparison between curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. Significance was defined as p<0.05.

Results

Mean patient age was 56±12 years (range 25–83 years). Nineteen patients (9.8%) were 40 years age or younger. With a median time follow-up of 67 months the local recurrence rate for all patients was 6.7%. Ten patients developed local recurrence and three had combined local and distant recurrence. The mean local relapse-free interval was 71 months (range 10–148). The 5-year actuarial local relapse-free survival for all patients was 96%. Comparison of patients younger and older than 40 years age revealed a significantly lower risk of recurrence with increasing age (86 vs. 97% respectively, p=0.013). Patients 40 years age or younger with poorly differentiated tumors had a 5-year local relapse-free survival of only 40%. In multivariate analysis, only young age and poor tumor differentiation were found statistically significant in predicting local recurrence.

Conclusions

Age and tumor differentiation are independent risk factors in our serie. These two factors should be taken into consideration when counseling breast cancer patients.     

Clinical results and prognostic factors in radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study of 158 patients

PURPOSE: To analyze the treatment results and prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with local radiotherapy (RT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1992 and 2000, 158 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma received local RT. Sixty-seven patients had an advanced UICC Stage III lesion and 91 patients had Stage IVA. The mean tumor size was 9.0 +/- 3.0 cm, and liver cirrhosis was present in 142 patients. Local RT was combined with transarterial chemoembolization as primary treatment (107 patients) or as salvage after failure of repeated transarterial chemoembolization (51 patients). The mean radiation dose was 48.2 +/- 7.9 Gy in daily 1.8-Gy fractions. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 21.6 months after diagnosis and 14.6 months after RT. The response rate was 67.1%. The overall survival rate at 2 and 5 years was 30.5% and 9%, respectively, from the time of diagnosis (median survival time 16 months) and 19.9% and 4.7%, respectively, after RT (median survival time 10 months). On univariate analysis, tumor size (p = 0.047), the presence of portal vein thrombosis (p = 0.007), and RT dose (p = 0.001) were significant factors for survival. However, on multivariate analysis, RT dose was the only significant factor (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Local RT achieved substantial tumor regression and survival. The radiation dose was found to be a significant prognostic factor in the RT of hepatocellular carcinoma. Additional efforts for dose escalation are warranted to improve the treatment results in parallel with better protecting the nontumorous liver.     

Low-grade gliomas in older patients: a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors

Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are increasingly being diagnosed in older patients (≥60 years). The rising incidence is incompletely understood but demands an analysis of the natural history and prognostic factors to determine if there are differences compared to younger populations. We retrospectively review a consecutive series of 20 older patients who presented between 1991 and 2004 with LGG to characterize the presentation, management, outcomes, and prognostic factors in older patients with LGG. Median follow-up was 27.3 months. Thirty-five percent of patients harboured oligodendrogliomas. Patients presented in equal numbers with seizure, focal neurological deficit, and mental status change. Median overall survival (OS) was 27.3 months. Patients who survive beyond 2 years experience prolonged periods of progression-free survival. Younger age, seizure presentation, and radiation treatment were prognostic of OS on multivariate analysis. Similarities with previous reports of LGG suggest that age should not affect the management of LGG patients. Prospective studies of older patients with LGG are needed to further characterize the optimum management of these patients.     

Pattern and prognostic factors in patients with malignant ascites: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Malignant ascites is a manifestation of end stage events in a variety of cancers and associated with a poor prognosis. We evaluated the pattern of cancers causing malignant ascites and factors affecting survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients coded with the International Classification of Diseases-9 coding system for malignant ascites over a 2-year period were reviewed. The clinicopathological data and patients' survival were compared among cancer groups. RESULTS: There were 209 patients (140 females and 69 males), median age being 67 (30-98) years. The commonest cancer was ovarian followed by gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Fifty-eight per cent of the patients had symptoms related to the ascites. Liver metastases were significantly commoner in the GI cancers (P = 0.0001). Fifty-four per cent of our patients presented with ascites at the initial diagnosis of their cancer. Paracentesis was given to 112, diuretics to 70 and chemotherapy to 103 patients. The median survival following diagnosis of ascites was 5.7 months. Ovarian cancer favoured longer survival while low serum albumin, low serum protein and liver metastases adversely affected survival. The independent prognostic factors for survival were cancer type, liver metastases and serum albumin. CONCLUSION: The identified independent prognostic factors should be used to select patients for multimodality therapy for adequate palliation.