Prognostic Significance of Tumor Size in 2405 Patients With Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The clinical prognostic significance of tumor size (Ts) in gastric cancer remains under debate. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of Ts in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy.A total of 2405 patients with gastric cancer, all having received radical resection, were enrolled in this retrospective study from 2000 to 2011. Patients were categorized by minimum P value from log-rank χ² statistics using X-tile. The relationships between Ts and other clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed, and the survival prediction accuracy was also compared between Ts and T stage.Patients were divided into 5 groups, according to which Ts stage and TsNM stage system were proposed. Ts, an independent prognostic factor identified by univariate and multivariate survival analysis, was significantly associated with sex, age, tumor location, macroscopic type, tumor diffferentiation, vessel invasion, perineural invasion, T stage, N stage, and TNM stage. Compared with T stage system, Ts stage system was found no superiorities in survival prediction. However, for patients with lymph node metastasis and patients with age ≥60, Ts stage system revealed a significant improvement of predictive accuracy in subgroup survival analysis. Furthermore, TsNM stage (c-index = 0.783) system was found to be superior to TNM stage (c-index = 0.743) system in prognostic prediction accuracy (P < 0.05).Ts is significantly correlated with gastric cancer progression, which can be regarded as a reliable prognostic factor, and the TsNM stage system may improve the prognostic prediction accuracy in gastric cancer patients.     

Prognostic Implications of Diabetes in Patients With Left-Sided Endocarditis: Findings From a Large Cohort Study

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher incidence of infections, and those with bacteremia are more prone to develop sepsis and infective endocarditis (IE). Nevertheless, data concerning the impact of DM on the prognosis of patients with IE are limited and sometimes contradictory. We examined the impact of DM on the inhospital outcome of left-sided IE in a large cohort of patients. We studied 594 consecutive episodes of left-sided IE diagnosed at 3 tertiary care centers. They were divided into 2 groups: episodes in patients with DM (n = 114) and episodes in patients without DM (n = 480). We retrospectively analyzed the influence of DM therapy on patient outcome. Compared to patients without DM, patients with DM were older (67 ± 10 vs. 60 ± 15 yr; p < 0.001), less frequently male (53.5% vs. 67.9%; p = 0.004), and more commonly had chronic renal failure (23.9% vs. 6.9%; p < 0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.6% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.019). Enterococcus (14.9% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.011) and Streptococcus bovis (8.8% vs. 3.8%; p = 0.024) were isolated more frequently. In the univariable analysis, septic shock (29.2% vs. 16.4%; p = 0.005) and mortality (43.5% vs. 30.0%; p = 0.008) were more common among patients with DM than in those without. Considering the different treatments for DM, septic shock (33.3%; p = 0.011) and death (50.8%; p = 0.012) were more frequent in patients receiving oral medication to treat diabetes than in patients with the other treatment modalities. However, multivariable analysis showed that DM had an independent association with development of septic shock (OR 2.282; 95% CI 1.186–4.393), but it was not a predictor of inhospital mortality.Staphylococci were the most frequently involved microorganisms in all patients; however, Enterococcus and Streptococcus bovis were more frequently isolated from individuals with DM and left-sided IE, whereas viridans group streptococci were more commonly isolated from those with left-sided IE who did not have DM. DM was independently associated with the development of septic shock, but it was not an independent predictor of inhospital mortality in patients with left-sided IE.Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval, COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, DM = diabetes mellitus, IE = infective endocarditis, OR = odds ratio     

Lymph Node Count After Preoperative Radiotherapy Is an Independently Prognostic Factor For Pathologically Lymph Node-Negative Patients With Rectal Cancer

Recent studies indicated that preoperative radiotherapy significantly reduces the lymph nodes (LNs) harvest from patients with rectal cancer. This may weaken the prognostic value of current standard of LNs retrieval (≥12 LNs). This study investigates the prognostic impact of the LN counts on pathologically LN-negative (ypN0) after preoperative radiotherapy for patients with rectal cancer.Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registered nonmetastatic rectal cancer patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2005 were included in this study. Optimal cutoff value for number of LNs retrieved was determined by X-tile program. Log-rank tests were adopted to compare the rectal cause specific survival (RCSS) for ypN0 patients using separated cutoff value of LN counting from 2 to 20. Correlation between LN count and tumor regression was investigated in an additional 221 patients from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC).The results showed that there were fewer number of LNs examined in patients with preoperative radiotherapy than those without (8.9 vs 10.9, P < 0.001). X-tile program identified the difference in survival was most significant (maximum of χ² log-rank values) for the number 4. And 5-year RCSS increased accordingly with the cutoff values ranging from 4 to 15, which were confirmed as optimal cutoff and validated as independent prognostic factors in multivariate regression analysis (χ² = 50.65, P < 0.001). Patients in FUSCC set were found to have fewer LNs retrieval in group of good tumor regression than in that of poor one (P = 0.01).These results confirmed the reduced number of LN retrieval in patients with rectal cancer treated with preop-RT. LN count is still an independently prognostic factor for ypN0 rectal cancer.     

Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio,Lymphocyte/Monocyte Ratio,and Absolute Lymphocyte Count/Absolute Monocyte Count Prognostic Score in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Useful Prognostic Tools in the Rituximab Era

The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), and absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count prognostic score (ALC/AMC PS) have been described as the most useful prognostic tools for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We retrospectively analyzed 148 Taiwanese patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma under rituximab (R)-CHOP-like regimens from January 2001 to December 2010 at the Tri-Service General Hospital and investigated the utility of these inexpensive tools in our patients. In a univariate analysis, the NLR, LMR, and ALC/AMC PS had significant prognostic value in our DLBCL patients (NLR: 5-year progression-free survival [PFS], P = 0.001; 5-year overall survival [OS], P = 0.007. LMR: PFS, P = 0.003; OS, P = 0.05. ALC/AMC PS: PFS, P < 0.001; OS, P < 0.001). In a separate multivariate analysis, the ALC/AMC PS appeared to interact less with the other clinical factors but retained statistical significance in the survival analysis (PFS, P = 0.023; OS, P = 0.017). The akaike information criterion (AIC) analysis produced scores of 388.773 in the NLR, 387.625 in the LMR, and 372.574 in the ALC/AMC PS. The results suggested that the ALC/AMC PS appears to be more reliable than the NLR and LMR and may provide additional prognostic information when used in conjunction with the International Prognostic Index.     

Background Parenchymal Enhancement on Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Association With Recurrence-Free Survival in Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

To retrospectively investigate whether background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) of the contralateral breast on preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is associated with therapeutic outcomes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in unilateral invasive breast cancer.The institutional review board approved this study, and informed consent was waived. Between 2009 and 2011, 93 women with unilateral invasive breast cancer (43 premenopausal women who performed pre-NAC MRI between days 7 and 20 of the menstrual cycle and 50 postmenopausal women) underwent NAC with pre- and post-NAC DCE-MRI before surgery. MRI features (BPE [minimal, mild, moderate, marked] of the contralateral breast, lesion size and number, lesion kinetics, and changes in lesion size) and clinicopathologic features were analyzed. Patients were grouped according to BPE category (high [moderate or marked] or low [minimal or mild]). Cox regression modeling was used to determine associations between MRI features and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after controlling for clinicopathologic variables.The mean follow-up period was 48.2 months. Twenty-three recurrences occurred (2 ipsilateral breasts, 6 regional, and 15 distant). On multivariate analysis, high BPE on pre-NAC MRI (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.851, P = 0.006) and triple-negative cancer (HR = 3.192, P = 0.002) were independent factors associated with worse RFS. A greater reduction of lesion size on post-NAC MRI (HR = 0.984, P = 0.021) was associated with better RFS.High BPE on pre-NAC MRI is significantly associated with worse RFS in an NAC setting. This study suggests that BPE on pre-NAC DCE-MRI may have potential as a predictor of long-term outcomes in breast cancer patients who undergo NAC.     

Breast Cancer Subtype is Associated With Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The purpose of this study was to assess whether breast cancer subtype (BCS) as determined by estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 can predict the axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.Patients who received breast conserving surgery or mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection were identified from 2 cancer centers. The associations between clinicopathological variables and axillary lymph node involvement were evaluated in univariate and multivariate regression analyses.A total of 3471 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 53.0% had axillary lymph node metastases at diagnosis. Patients with hormone receptor (HR)−/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)− subtype had a higher grade disease and the lowest rate of lymphovascular invasion. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that BCS was significantly associated with lymph node involvement. Patients with the HR−/HER2− subtype had the lowest odds of having nodal positivity than those with other BCSs. HR+/HER2− (odds ratio [OR] 1.651, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.349–2.021, P < 0.001), HR+/HER2+ (OR 1.958, 95%CI 1.542–2.486, P < 0.001), and HR−/HER2+ (OR 1.525, 95%CI 1.181–1.970, P < 0.001) tumors had higher risk of nodal positivity than the HR−/HER2− subtype. The other independent predictors of nodal metastases included tumor size, tumor grade, and lymphovascular invasion.Breast cancer subtype can predict the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. HR−/HER2− is associated with a reduced risk of axillary lymph node metastasis compared to other BCSs. Our findings may play an important role in guiding axillary treatment considerations if further confirmed in larger sample size studies.     

Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Gastric Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Improvements in therapeutic modalities have prolonged the survival of gastric cancer patients. Comorbidities such as thromboembolic events that emerge as a result of disease complexities and/or treatments received have not been considered. The objectives of this study are to examine the relationship between gastric cancer and ischemic stroke, and to determine predictive risk factors.A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. A total of 45,060 gastric cancer patients and non-cancer counterparts without antecedent stroke were recruited. Hazard ratios (HRs) and the cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke were calculated, and risk factors for ischemic stroke were assessed.Gastric cancer patients were associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.19, P = 0.007), especially in participants younger than 65 years (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.39–1.86, P < 0.001) and in female participants (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14–1.49; P < 0.001) when compared with the matched cohort. Independent risk factors of ischemic stroke in gastric cancer patients included age, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, and having received major surgery for gastric cancer.Our findings suggest the importance of stroke surveillance and prevention strategies in high-risk patients. Having received major surgery for gastric cancer is a significant risk factor in these patients.     

Digital Ischemia Associated With Cancer: Results from a Cohort Study

Digital ischemia associated with cancer (DIAC) is increasing in frequency and recent reports have suggested the concept of paraneoplastic manifestation. The aims of this study were to characterize the clinical presentation of DIAC and identify clinical features that could lead physicians to diagnose underlying cancer.From January 2004 to December 2011, 100 patients were hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rouen University Hospital, France for a first episode of DI. Fifteen (15%) exhibited symptomatic or asymptomatic cancer during the year preceding or following vascular episode and constituted the DIAC group. Other patients without cancer made up the digital ischemia (DI) group.Median time between diagnosis of cancer and episode of digital necrosis was 2 months [0.25–9]. Diagnosis of DI and concomitant cancer was made in 7 of the 15 patients, while DI preceded the malignant disorder in 2 cases and followed it in 6 cases. Histological types were adenocarcinoma for 7 (46.7%), squamous cell carcinoma for 4 (26.7%), and lymphoid neoplasia for 3 patients (20%). Six patients (40%) had extensive cancer. Three patients were lost to follow-up and 5 patients died <1 year after diagnosis of cancer. Cancer treatment improved vascular symptoms in 6 patients (40%). Patients with DIAC, compared to patients with DI, were significantly older (56 years [33–79] vs 46 [17–83] P =0.005), and had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (12.7 g/dl vs 13.9 g/dl; P =0.003 and 38% vs 42%; P =0.003, respectively). Patients with DIAC had a higher platelet rate (420 vs 300 G/L P =0.01), and 6 patients with DIAC (40%) had thrombocytosis. There was no difference between groups either in C-reactive protein level (12 mg/L vs 5 mg/L; P =0.08) or regarding cardiovascular risk factors, presence of autoimmunity, or monoclonal protein.This retrospective study suggests that DIAC may be more prevalent than previously reported. Outcomes of the 2 diseases were not strictly chronologically parallel. However, in the majority of cases, treatment of the tumor resolved vascular involvement. Our findings suggest that age >50 years and thrombocytosis should alert physicians to consider a possible occult malignancy when digital necrosis occurs.     

Cancer Risk in HBV Patients With Statin and Metformin Use: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) often causes chronic inflammation of the liver with an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV-infected individuals may also have an increased incidence of nonliver cancers. Taking statin or metformin may decrease inflammation and infiltration, which may, as a result, reduce the risk of liver cancer or other major cancers in patients with HBV infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that statin and metformin could reduce the incidence of liver cancer (HCC) or nonliver cancers in patients with HBV.Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 to 2008, this cohort study comprised patients with a recorded diagnosis of HBV (N = 71,847) between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2008. Each patient was followed-up until the end of 2008. The occurrence of HCC or a nonliver cancer was evaluated in patients who either were or were not taking statin or metformin. Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to evaluate the cancer incidence after adjusting for known confounding factors.In total, 71,824 HBV-infected patients comprised the study cohort. Our study showed that either metformin or statin use was associated with a reduction in the incidence of cancer. This was most prominent in patients taking both statin and metformin. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for patients using only statin were 0.52 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–0.57) for all cancers, 0.28 (95% CI, 0.23–0.35) for liver cancer, and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.57–0.70) for nonliver cancers. Patients taking only metformin had risk-adjusted HRs of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.75–0.90) for all cancers, 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84–1.14) for liver cancer, and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67–0.84) for nonliver cancers. A dose-dependent effect of statin use for chemoprevention was observed for all cancers, including both liver cancer and nonliver cancers. A dose-dependent effect of metformin was also seen in liver cancer and nonliver cancers without stratification into different cumulative daily doses of statin use.This population-based cohort study investigated the protective effect of statin and metformin against cancer events in patients with HBV infection. Our study demonstrated that either statin or metformin served as independent chemopreventive agents with a dose–response effect in reducing the incidence of cancer with a dose–response effect of the agents and an additive or synergistic effect of combining statin and metformin use in reducing the incidence of many cancers.     

Clinical Significance of Circulating Cardiomyocyte-Specific Cell-Free DNA in Patients With Heart Failure: A Proof-of-Concept Study

We investigated clinical significance of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in heart failure. This study enrolled 32 heart failure patients and 28 control subjects. Total cfDNA levels were not different between groups (P = 0.343). Bisulfite-digital polymerase chain reaction using the unmethylated FAM101A locus demonstrated that cardiomyocyte-specific cfDNA was significantly elevated in heart failure patients compared with control subjects (median 0.99 [interquartile range 0.77-1.98] vs 0 [0-0.91] copies/mL; P = 0.003). Cardiomyocyte-specific cfDNA significantly discriminated heart failure patients from control subjects (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.716; P = 0.003) and was positively correlated with troponin I (r = 0.438; P = 0.003) but not with B-type natriuretic peptide (r = 0.275; P = 0.058). cfDNA may be a novel biomarker to measure cardiomyocyte death in heart failure.     

Incidence of Cancer in a Cohort of Spanish Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence and prevalence of cancer in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and identify associated risk factors.Patients and methodsThe study comprised a dynamic cohort of SLE patients (November 1989 to December 2006) at a tertiary referral centre. An adjusted external control from the hospital tumour registry was used.ResultsThe study included 175 SLE patients (90% women), with a mean time at risk of 1370.5 patient-years. Fourteen women (8%) died, mainly from cardiovascular events. No patient died due to malignancy. We found 35 tumours in 28 patients, 25 of them after the diagnosis of SLE, of which 5 were malignant. The rate of benign tumours was 14.6/1000 patient-years (95% CI, 8.9–22.5) and of malignant tumours 3.6/1000 patient-years (95% CI, 1.5–8.8), with a crude incidence odds ratio for malignant tumours of 3.5 (95% CI, 1.5–7.9). However, this significance was lost after standardizing the rates. Concerning associated risk factors, differences were found in the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate [HR 1.4 (1.1–1.7)], and the presence of thrombosis [HR 6.9 (1.49–41.2)], especially arterial thrombosis.ConclusionsWe found a crude incidence rate of cancer that was almost four times greater in our SLE patients as compared with the expected rate in the hospital area of western Malaga.     

The Risk of Cancer in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Previous studies suggest a link between anxiety disorders and cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of cancer among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using a nationwide population-based dataset.We recruited newly diagnosed OCD patients without antecedent cancer from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2002 and 2011. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated for 22 specific cancer types among OCD patients and we determined the SIRs for subgroups according to age and sex group. In addition, because of a potential detection bias, a subgroup analysis stratified with the duration of the OCD diagnosis was carried out.Among the 52,656 OCD patients, who were followed up for 259,945 person-years (median follow-up = 4.9 years), there were 718 cases of cancer. Patients with OCD did not exhibit an increased overall cancer risk relative to the general population (SIR 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98–1.13). An increased SIR was observed among OCD patients only within the first year of OCD diagnosis (SIR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01–1.43).This study indicated that the overall cancer risk was not elevated among OCD patients. An increased SIR observed among OCD patients within the first year of OCD diagnosis may be caused by a surveillance bias, and because paraneoplastic manifestations presented with obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Prospective study is necessary to confirm these findings.     

Predictive Significance of a New Prognostic Score for Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Interim-Positron Emission Tomography Findings

We hypothesized that the objective treatment response of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was affected by many factors such as pathophysiological, biological, and pharmaceutical mechanisms. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the predictive significance of clinical prognostic factors and interim fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and to find a new prognostic predictor significantly associated with DLBCL patients’ outcome. A total of 105 adult patients with DLBCL were reviewed. Each patient underwent an interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan after the second chemotherapy cycle. The visual method based on the Deauville 5-point scale was used to evaluate the interim-PET/CT scans. The relationships among the prognostic factors, the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were analyzed with Kaplan–Meier plots. The predictive value of the newly constructed prognostic score was analyzed with multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard regression model). The visual analysis showed statistically significant differences in both PFS and OS between the patients with a negative interim-PET/CT and those with a positive interim-PET/CT. Advanced age, advanced stage, and DLBCL subtype were also significantly associated with outcome. A new prognostic score that composed of the above 4 factors was obtained. New prognostic score stratified patients into 4 risk groups with 3-year PFS of 98.5%, 73.9%, 11.1%, and 0%, and 3-year OS of 100%, 91.3%, 55.6%, and 0% (P < 0.001 for PFS and OS). Multivariate analysis showed that the new prognostic score had the greatest ability to predict relapse (P < 0.001) and death (P < 0.001). In DLBCL patients, interim ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can provide significant independent prognostic information. Our work illustrates that the new prognostic score has the strongest potential for accurately prognostication, for stratification in clinical trials, and for design of novel strategies for DLBCL patients in the high-risk group.     

Prognostic Significance of Single Progesterone Receptor Positivity: A Comparison Study of Estrogen Receptor Negative/Progesterone Receptor Positive/Her2 Negative Primary Breast Cancer With Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Single progesterone receptor positive (PgR+), especially in form of ER−/PgR+/HER2−, is a nonnegligible phenomenon. Little is known about the characteristics and the role of single PgR positive in this phenotype. Therefore, we explore the significance of single PgR positivity by comparing ER−/PgR+/HER2− breast cancers with triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs).Three thousand nine hundred sixty-six cases of primary invasive breast carcinoma operated consecutively from January 2005 to May 2008 in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were examined. Two hundred forty (6%) cases were identified as ER−/PgR+/HER2− breast cancers and 348 (8.8%) cases as TNBCs. Clinicopathological characteristics and survivals were analyzed respectively and then compared between 2 subtypes.Compared with patients with TNBCs, ER−/PgR+/HER2− tumor tended to have lower tumor grade (Grade 3: 45.7% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.051) and smaller tumor size (P = 0.036). However, no differences were found between ER−/PgR+/HER2− and TNBC patients in relapse-free survival (RFS) and OS. The 5-year RFS rates were 80.7% and 77.4%, respectively (P = 0.330) and the 5-year OS rates were 88.0% and 85.2%, respectively (P = 0.290). ER−/PgR+/HER2− patients receiving adjuvant endocrine treatment had better RFS (P = 0.016) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001) than patients receiving no endocrine therapy.This exclusive analysis of patients with ER−/PgR+/HER2− breast cancers showed that this subtype exhibited an aggressive behavior as TNBC, suggesting that it should also be regarded as biologically distinctive group and single PgR positive itself is not a good prognostic factor. However, adjuvant endocrine therapy could still benefit this group of patients. Further investigations should be done to elucidate the underlying mechanism.     

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Improved Survival in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)-associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) might be related to treatment efficacy in patients with breast cancer because of circulating estrogen antagonism.The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between NAFLD and survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer who were treated with tamoxifen or toremifene.This single-center, retrospective, cohort study included 785 eligible patients who received tamoxifen or toremifene, after curative resection for breast cancer, at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2005 and December 2009. Data were extracted from patient medical records. All patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography, at least once, at baseline and at the annual follow-up. Patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD on ultrasonography were classified into the NAFLD or the non-NAFLD arm at the 3-year follow-up visit. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to evaluate any associations between NAFLD and disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS).One hundred fifty-eight patients were diagnosed with NAFLD. Patients who developed NAFLD had better DFS and OS compared with those who did not. Univariate analyses revealed that the 5-year DFS rates were 91.56% and 85.01% for the NAFLD and non-NAFLD arms, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.96; log-rank P = 0.032). The 5-year OS rates were 96.64% and 93.31% for the NAFLD and non-NAFLD arms, respectively (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16–0.99; log-rank P = 0.039). Multivariate analysis revealed that NAFLD was an independent prognostic factor for DFS, improving the DFS rate by 41% compared with that in the non-NAFLD arm (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36–0.96; P = 0.033).SERM-associated NAFLD was independently associated with improved DFS and might be useful for predicting treatment responses in breast cancer patients treated with SERMs.     

Circulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Objective : The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a glycoprotein that selectively promotes proliferation of endothelial cells, has been associated with cancer development. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum levels of VEGF correlate with disease progression in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods : VEGF levels were measured by a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 67 patients with colorectal cancer, 14 patients with colorectal adenomas, and 72 healthy volunteers, and in tissue homogenates from 10 patients with colorectal cancer. Results : Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in patients with colorectal adenomas or in normal controls (   p < 0.01  ). In patients with colorectal cancer, serum VEGF levels were significantly associated with Dukes stage (   p < 0.01  ) and with carcinoembryonic antigen levels (   r = 0.725  ,   p < 0.001  ). Patients with hepatic and/or lymph node metastasis had higher serum VEGF levels than those without. Surgical resection of the colorectal tumor led to a decrease in serum VEGF levels whether or not metastasis was present (   p < 0.05  ). The tumor-bearing tissue contained significantly more VEGF than normal-appearing mucosa (   p < 0.05  ). Conclusions : VEGF is involved in the development of colorectal cancer. Measurement of VEGF in the serum may be a useful noninvasive clinical marker for evaluating the disease status.