• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1281-1284
• /
• 2012

Background: Platinum-hased chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still considered the first choice, presenting a modest survival advantage. However, the patients eventually experience disease progression and require second-line therapy. While there are reliable predictors to identify patients receiving first-line chemotherapy, very little knowledge is available about the prognostic factors in patients who receive second-line treatments. The present study was therefore performed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 patients receiving second-line treatments from August 2002 to March 2012 in the Dicle University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology. Fourteen potential prognostic variables were chosen for analysis in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with survival. Result: The results of univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status (PS), stage, response to first-line chemotherapy response to second-line chemotherapy and number of metastasis. PS, diabetes mellitus (DM), response to first-line chemotherapy and response to second-line chemotherapy were identified to have prognostic significance for progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis showed that PS, response to first-line chemotherapy and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for OS. Furthermore, PS and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. Conclusion: In conclusion, PS, response to first and second-line chemotherapy were identified as important prognostic factors for OS in advanced NSCLC patients who were undergoing second-line palliative treatment. Furthermore, PS and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. It may be concluded that these findings may facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for the correct choice of treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2369-2374
• /
• 2016

Background: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a cancer group that shares molecular and cellular origin but shows different clinical courses and prognoses. Several prognostic factors have been reported for predicting recurrence for individual patients. This literature review aimed to evaluate prognostic scores for predicting recurrence of DTC. Materials and Methods: A search of the MEDLINE database for articles published until December 2015 was carried out using the terms "thyroid neoplasms AND (recurrent OR persistent) AND (score OR model OR nomogram)". Studies were eligible for review if they indicated the development of prognostic scoring models, derived from a group of independent prognostic factors, in predicting disease recurrence in DTC patients. Results: Of the 308 articles obtained, five were eligible for evaluation. Two scoring models were developed for DTC including both papillary and follicular carcinoma, one for papillary carcinoma, and the other two for papillary microcarcinoma. The number of patients included in the score development cohort ranged from 59 to 1,669. The number of evaluated potential prognostic factors ranged from 4 to 25. Tumor-related factors were the most common factors included in the final scores, with cervical lymph node metastases being the most common. Only two studies showed internal validation of the derived score. Conclusions: There is a paucity of prognostic scores for predicting disease recurrence in patients with DTC, in particular for follicular thyroid carcinoma. Several limitations of the created scores were found. Performance of the scores has not been adequately studied. Comprehensive validation in multiple cohorts is recommended before widespread use.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.210-216
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To assess independent prognostic factors for lymph node-negative metastatic gastric cancer patients following curative resection is valuable for more effective follow-up strategies. Materials and Methods: Among 1,874 gastric cancer patients who received curative resection, 967 patients were lymph node-negative. Independent prognostic factors for overall survival in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients grouped by tumor invasion depth (early gastric cancer versus advanced gastric cancer) were explored with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: There was a significant difference in the distribution of recurrence pattern between lymph node-negative and lymph nodepositive group. In the lymph node-negative group, the recurrence pattern differed by the depth of tumor invasion. In univariate analysis for overall survival of the early gastric cancer group, age, macroscopic appearance, histologic type, venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis for these factors showed that venous invasion (hazard ratio, 6.695), age (${\geq}59$, hazard ratio, 2.882), and carcinoembryonic antigen level (${\geq}5$ ng/dl, hazard ratio, 3.938) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis of advanced gastric cancer group showed that depth of tumor invasion (T2 versus T3, hazard ratio, 2.809), and age (hazard ratio, 2.319) were prognostic factors on overall survival. Conclusions: Based on our results, independent prognostic factors such as venous permeation, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and age, depth of tumor invasion on overall survival were different between early gastric cancer and advanced gastric cancer group in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients. Therefore, we are confident that our results will contribute to planning follow-up strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1491-1494
• /
• 2012

Background: Previous studies have pointed to many different prognostic factors for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) but diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been clearly or consistently identified as of prognostic value. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the characteristics of patients and clinical laboratory tests in SCLC. Specifically, we investigated that the impact of DM for survival in the patients receiving first-line etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 161 patients with SCLC with a focus on DM and other potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses with respect to survival. Result: Among the sixteen variables of univariate analysis, five were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status (PS) (p<0.001), stage (p=0.001), DM (p=0.005), serum albumin (p<0.001) and hemoglobin levels (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis showed PS, stage and serum albumin level to be independent prognostic factors for survival (p=0.02, p=0.02 and p=0.009 respectively), but DM was not an independnet factor. Conclusion: In conclusion, PS, stage and serum albumin level were identified as important prognostic factors, while DM at the time of diagnosis of SCLC did not have prognostic importance for survival.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has a dismal prognosis and is occasionally encountered during initial exploration in patients with gastric cancer. The clinicopathological characteristics and survival were analyzed in patients with gastric cancer and PC. Materials and Methods: Among 2,083 gastric cancer patients who received surgery at the department of surgery, Hanyang University Hospital from 1992 to 2009, 130 patients revealed PC. Ten patients who were lost during follow-up were excluded. The remaining 120 patients were divided into three groups according to the type of surgery. The degree of PC was classified into P1(to the adjacent peritoneum) and P2 (to the distant peritoneum). Various other clinicopathological factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariatec survival analyses. Results: Systemic chemotherapy (SC), type of surgery, lymph node dissection, degree of PC, and presence of ascites were significant prognostic factors. However, age, gender, resection of PC, and Borrmann type were not significant prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, SC and the degree of PC were independent prognostic factors. The survival benefit of SC was significant without reference to the type of surgery or degree of PC. Conclusions: A gastrectomy should be considered feasible in patients with gastric cancer and PC. The independent favorable prognostic factors were SC and a low degree of PC. SC improved the prognosis regardless of operation type and degree of PC.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.133-146
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to predict the conservative treatment outcome of TMD patients by investigating the prognostic factors ; symptom duration, history of previous treatment, history of previous medication, history of trauma, disability of daily activity, severity of pain, noise, limitation of mouth opening(LOM) and maximum comfortable opening(MCO). Two hundreds and fifty-four subjects were selected for this study among the TMD patients who had visited the Dept. of Oral Medicine BNUH and been treated conservatively with medication, physical therapy, behavioral treatment, and splint therapy from 1991 to 2000. The subjects were divided into two groups improved or unimproved according to the treatment response following six months of conservative treatment. Those who showed less than 1 on NAS for pain, TMJ noise, and opening limitation belonged to the improved group and those who showed more than 2 on NAS belonged to the unimproved group. The two groups were compared with respect to symptom severity, number of diagnosis, history of trauma, previous treatment, previous medication, and disability of daily activity. A prognostic equation with the factors revealed to be significantly related to the prognosis of conservative treatment was obtained. The obtained results were as follows ; 1. In improved group, mean duration of history was 12 months, mean treatment duration of a patient was 4 months an mean number of treatment was about 10 times. In other words, in unimproved group, mean duration of history was 27.4 months, mean treatment duration of patient was 10.5 months and mean number of treatment was 19 times. 2. In unimproved group, multiple diagnosis, chronicity, disability of daily activity were significantly greater than that of the improved group. 3. Patients in unimproved group revealed severe noise at first visit and smaller maximum comfortable opening comparatively. 4. Prognostic factors such as duration of treatment, number of treatment, multiplicity, and chronicity and disability of daily activity showed a significant relation in prediction of improvement. 5. Prognostic equation with significant variables is as follows ; Y = 1.984 - 0.251Noise + 0.068MCO - 0.673Multiplicity. - 0.958Chronicity - 0.065Disability. Classification accuracy of 70.3 %, sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 66.7% were shown. 6. Prognostic equation with all factors is as follows : Y = 1.599 - 0.038Pain - 0.256Noise - 0.006Limitation + 0.068MCO - 0.580Multiplicity - 1.025Chronicity - 0.720Disability - 0.329Medication - 0.087Treatment + 0.740Trauma. Classification accuracy of 70.3 %, sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 64.3% were shown. 7. Prognostic value of the improved group with significant factors was $1.0446{\pm}1.0726$ and prognostic value of the unimproved group with significant factors was $-0.013{\pm}1.0146$. Prognostic value of the improved group with all factors was $1.0465{\pm}1.0849$ and prognostic value of the unimproved group with all factors was $-0.057{\pm}1.0611$.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.210-219
• /
• 1995

Many different factors which may affect the prognosis of the soft tissue sarcomas have been reported by many authors ; Generally, tumor size, histologic type, surgical margin, and multi modality therapy therapy as the prognostic factors were reported. The objectives of this retrospective study of soft tissue sarcomas are : 1) to define more clearly prognostic variables that have significant predictive value for disease-free and overall survival ; and 2) to evaluate tumor histologic grade based upon extent of tumor necrosis as a means of stratifying more aggressive soft tissue sarcomas(grade II & III) of the extremities. We treated 94 patients who had soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk from May 1984 to September 1994(average duration of follow-up was 5 years ranging from 2 months to 10 years) and evaluated the prognostic factors of the soft tissue sarcomas; age, sex, depth, size, location, histologic type and grade, stage, therapy modality, surgical margin, local recurrence and distant metastasis. The results were as follows. 1. The patients with poorer prognosis were over the age of fifty, whose mass was deeply located, size of the mass was over 10cm in diameter, grade III in histology, who had local recurrence, metastasis, and received only surgery. 2. Among these prognostic factors, the most significant prognostic factor was histologic grade base upon extent of tumor necrosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.3187-3190
• /
• 2012

This study evaluated the relationship between pretreatment hemoglobin (Hb) and prognostic factors in Thai patients with endometrial cancer. Medical records of 228 patients who had undergone surgery between January 2005 and December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Associations between clinicopathological variables and pretreatment Hb levels were described using Pearson's chi square test or two-tailed Fisher's exact test. Survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier estimates. Univariate and Cox-regression models were used to evaluate the prognostic impact of various factors, including Hb levels, in term of disease-free survival. The median duration of follow-up was 38.2 months. Eighty-nine patients (39%) had a preoperative Hb level of <12 g/dL, these having significantly higher rates of non-endometrioid histology, advanced FIGO stage, lymphovascular space invasion, cervical involvement, adnexal involvement, positive peritoneal cytology, and lymph node involvement than patients with Hb ${\geq}12$ g/dL. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival were significantly lower in patients with pretreatment Hb levels <12 g/dL compared with those with Hb ${\geq}12$ g/dL (79.3% vs. 89.2%, p=0.044 and 87.6% vs. 99.3%, p<0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis only histology, myometrial invasion, and lymphovascular invasion proved to be independent prognostic factors, whereas tumor grading, stage, cervical involvement, adnexal involvement, positive peritoneal cytology, lymph node involvement, and low Hb were not. In conclusion, presence of anemia before treatment may reflect poor prognostic factors in patients with endometrial cancer and low pretreatment hemoglobin level may have a prognostic impact on clinical outcome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.1059-1063
• /
• 2012

Objective: Angiogenesis represents a key element in the pathogenesis of malignancy. There are no robust data on prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy. The present study was conducted to establish a prognostic model for patients using an oxaliplatin-based or irinotecan-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: Baseline characteristics and outcomes on 170 patients treated with FOLFIRI or XELOX plus anti-VEGF therapy-naive metastatic colorectal cancer were collected from three Turkey cancer centers. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors for OS. Results: The median OS for the whole cohort was 19 months (95% CI, 14.3 to 23.6 months). Three of the seven adverse prognostic factors according to the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology (ASMO) were independent predictors of short survival: serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN; p<0.001); neutrophils greater than the ULN (p<0.0014); and progression free survival (PFS) less than 6 months (p =0.001). Conclusion: Serum LDH and neutrophil levels were the main prognostic factors in predicting survival, followed by PFS. This model validates incorporation of components of the ASMO model into patient care and clinical trials that use VEGF-targeting agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.3869-3872
• /
• 2012

Background: The majority of patients with gastric cancer in developing countries present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy therefore has limited impact on overall survival. Patients eligible for chemotherapy should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing first-line palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer patients who were treated with docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil (DCF) as first-line treatment between June 2007 and August 2011. Twenty-eight potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Among the 28 variables of univariate analysis, nine variables were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status, histology, location of primary tumor, lung metastasis, peritoneum metastasis, ascites, hemoglobin, albumin, weight loss and bone metastasis. Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, including nine prognostic significance factors evident in univariate analysis, revealed weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level to be independent variables. Conclusion: Performance status, weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level were identified as important prognostic factors in advanced gastric cancer patients. These findings may facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for treatment.