肝门部胆管癌临床诊断与放疗疗效分析

目的：探讨不同手术方式治疗肝门部胆管癌的效果及其对术后放疗的影响。方法：回顾性分析我科自2008年6月至2012年6月间收治的60例肝门部胆管癌患者的临床资料,根据手术方式不同,将所选病例分为两组,其中26例接受根治性切除术,34例患者采用姑息性手术进行治疗。对比不同手术方式下放疗后患者生存情况。结果：围手术期死亡1例。两组患者各有2例患者失访。随访的23例根治手术患者1、3、5年间的生存率为19（82．6％）、10（43．5％）、2（8．7％）;32例姑息性手术患者1、3、5年间的生存率为15（46．9％）、4（12．4％）、0（0％）。根治性手术后患者1、3、5年间的生存率显著性高于姑息性手术治疗的患者,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：通过术前影像学诊断,选择合理的手术方式,联合术后放疗,可有效延长肝门部胆管癌患者的生存时间。     

89例喉鳞癌患者术后生存的COX模型多因素分析

目的:探讨影响喉癌手术后生存的相关危险因素。方法:回顾1997年1月-2006年12月在我科行喉癌手术治疗的89例患者,分析肿瘤因素、宿主因素及辅助治疗因素对术后生存的影响。结果:全组术后5年生存率70.7%(63/89),肿瘤T分期、颈部淋巴结是否转移及手术切缘状态是影响喉癌手术预后的独立危险因素。对于进展期喉癌,如适应症选择合理,行全喉切除及根治性喉部分切除预后无统计学差异。结论:早期诊断并选择合理的术式,尤其一些保留或重建喉功能的术式加合理的颈淋巴结清扫,同时确保手术安全切缘是提高喉癌术后肿瘤和喉功能效果的关键。     

胆管结石合并胆管癌的临床特征与诊治分析

目的：探讨胆管结石合并胆管癌的临床特征及诊治方法。方法：回顾性分析2000年1月-2009年12月我院收治的胆管结石合并胆管癌16例患者的临床病理资料。结果：胆管癌的发生率占同期胆管结石患者的3.1%,其临床表现以右上腹疼痛及反复的胆管炎发作为主,但缺乏特异性。术前胆管癌组患者AKP、γ-GT均有不同程度升高,ALT升高12例,总胆红素升高9例,与非胆管癌组相比,AKP、γ-GT、ALT、TBIL均显著升高（P〈0.01）,且胆管癌组术前血清CA19-9及CEA显著高于非胆管癌组（P〈0.01）,而两组间CA125及AFP水平比较无显著差异（P〉0.05）。16例患者中可进行手术治疗10例;其中根治性手术8例,姑息性手术2例。8例根治性手术患者的1、3年生存率分别为78.6%和36.4%;2例姑息性手术患者1、3年生存率分别为50.0%和0%,两组比较具有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论：胆管结石合并胆管癌的临床表现缺乏特异性,患者的疗效较差,对血清CA19-9和CEA显著升高者应行病理活检确诊,治疗手段应该力争实行根治性切除,有助于提高患者的生存期。     

89例喉鳞癌患者术后生存的cox模型多因素分析

目的：探讨影响喉癌手术后生存的相关危险因素。方法：回顾1997年1月-2006年12月在我科行喉癌手术治疗的89例患者,分析肿瘤因素、宿主因素及辅助治疗因素对术后生存的影响。结果：全组术后5年生存率70．7％（63／89）,肿瘤T分期、颈部淋巴结是否转移及手术切缘状态是影响喉癌手术预后的独立危险因素。对于进展期喉癌,如适应症选择合理,行全喉切除及根治性喉部分切除预后无统计学差异。结论：早期诊断并选择合理的术式,尤其一些保留或重建喉功能的术式加合理的颈淋巴结清扫,同时确保手术安全切缘是提高喉癌术后肿瘤和喉功能效果的关键。     

EGFR在晚期声门上型喉鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:研究表皮生长因子受体(epidermalgrowth factorreceptor,EGFR)在晚期声门上型喉鳞癌组织中的表达情况及其与临床各相关因素的关系,探讨EGFR能否作为判断晚期声门上喉鳞癌患者预后的预测性指标。方法:收集我院2004年1月~2008年4月共52例晚期(Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期)声门上型喉鳞癌患者手术后切除的肿瘤组织,应用免疫组化技术检测EGFR表达情况,运用统计学方法,结合临床资料分析其与肿瘤分期、淋巴结转移、病理分化程度、生存率及术后放疗对预后的影响等临床病理特征的关系。结果:EGFR在晚期声门上型喉鳞癌组织中存在阳性表达,阳性表达物质呈棕黄色,表达率为76.92%(40/52),其中过表达率为44.23%。EGFR的表达与晚期声门上型喉鳞癌患者的年龄、性别、吸烟无关,与浸润程度(P=0.005),淋巴结转移数目(P=0.018),TNM分期(P=0.003),病理分化程度(P=0.011)有关。单因素分析得出EGFR表达程度、T、N分期以及病理分化程度是影响无复发生存时间的危险因素(P0.05),T、N分期、病理分化程度是影响总生存时间的危险因素(P0.05)。多因素分析显示只有肿瘤浸润程度(T分期)和淋巴结转移(N分期)是影响无复发生存时间和总生存时间的独立预后因素。EGFR的阴性表达组与阳性表达组的3年、5年生存率不具有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:EGFR在晚期声门上型喉鳞癌组织中存在过表达,证实了EGFR的过度表达与肿瘤的侵袭、转移相关,检测其表达水平对晚期喉癌的个体化治疗、靶向治疗有重要参考价值。但EGFR尚不能作为晚期声门上型喉鳞癌行手术及术后辅助放疗患者对无复发生存时间和总生存时间的预测指标。     

原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的临床分析

目的:探讨原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的临床特点、诊断方法和预后影响因素。方法:回顾性分析随访资料完整的45例原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤患者的临床病理资料。结果:腺癌33例(73.3%)为主要的病理类型。主要临床表现为腹痛、上腹部不适、黄疸、消化道出血等。胃十二指肠镜、内镜逆行胰胆管造影(Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography,ERCP)、十二指肠低张造影、超声内镜、CT及B超确诊率分别为91.1%(41/45),93.3%(42/45),82.2%(37/45),75.6%(34/45),68.9%(31/45)及26.7%(12/45)。本组45例均行开腹手术,包括根治性手术,胰十二指肠切除术36例;姑息性手术,胃肠吻合术2例、肿瘤局部切除术5例、短路手术2例。根治术和姑息术后5年生存率分别为46.7%和4.4%,两组生存率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对全组45例患者的预后因素进行Cox回归分析的结果显示,手术方式、肿瘤浸润深度和淋巴节转移是影响预后的独立危险因素(均P<0.05)。结论:原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤缺乏特异性临床表现;胃十二指肠镜、ERCP以及十二指肠低张造影等联合检查可提高诊断率;根治性手术远期疗效较好;淋巴结转移和局部侵犯是肿瘤预后不良的重要影响因素。     

结直肠癌肝转移原发病灶切除后患者生存状况及预后因素分析

目的:探讨结直肠癌肝转移原发病灶切除后患者生存状况及预后因素分析。方法:回顾性分析2008年5月至2012年5月我院收治的60例结直肠癌肝转移并接受原发病灶切除术患者临床及随访资料。采用Kaplan-Meier方法计算中位生存时间,采用Log-rank检验进行单因素分析,采用Cox回归模型进行多因素分析,对影响结直肠癌肝转移原发病灶切除后患者预后的相关因素进行分析。结果:60例患者1、2、3年生存率分别为83.2%、67.8%及50.3%;中位生存时间为(22.9±5.56)个月。单因素分析结果显示,原发肿瘤形态学分型、原发肿瘤T分期、原发肿瘤N分期、原发病灶手术方式、肝转移时间以及肝转移灶局部治疗方式等6个临床因素是结直肠癌肝转移原发病灶切除患者预后的影响因素(P0.05)。多因素分析结果显示,影响结直肠癌肝转移原发病灶切除后患者预后的因素主要有原发肿瘤形态学分型、原发病灶手术方式以及肝转移灶局部治疗方式(P0.05)。结论:原发肿瘤形态学分型、原发病灶手术方式以及肝转移灶局部治疗方式是影响结直肠癌肝转移患者预后的主要因素。对结直肠癌肝转移患者进行早期明确诊断与手术治疗,并对肝转移灶局部设定合理治疗方案,对于患者生存状况的提高具有十分积极的意义。     

肝细胞癌根治性切除术后预后因素分析

目的:探讨影响肝细胞癌患者根治性术后预后相关因素。方法:回顾性分析2004年1月1日至2009年12月31日245例我院行根治性切除术的肝细胞癌患者,采用Kaplan-Meier法和Cox比例风险模型分析临床资料、手术过程、病理特征与预后的关系。结果:多因素分析结果显示术前AFP水平、术中出血量、TNM分期是影响无进展生存时间和总生存时间的独立风险因素。术前AFP水平越高、术中出血量越大、TNM分期越晚则患者无进展生存时间及总生存时间明显缩短。此外,患者出现肿瘤组织局部坏死、门静脉癌栓,则总生存时间明显缩短。结论:术前AFP水平、术中出血量、TNM分期是外科根治性切除术后肝细胞癌患者复发及死亡的相关因素,对于临床医师判断预后及延长术后生存时间具有重要的临床意义。     

CXCL12及受体CXCR4在胆管癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨趋化因子CXCLl2及其受体CXCR4在胆管癌中的表达及与临床病理特征、预后的关系.方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测10例正常胆管、61例胆管癌(19例肝门部胆管癌、42例胆总管中下段癌)组织中CXCL12和CXCR4蛋白的表达.结果:正常胆管中无CXCL12和CXCR4蛋白的表达,胆管癌的CXCL12和CXCR4蛋白的表达分别为88%和53%,有转移的胆管癌中CXCR4蛋白的表达为94%,显著高于无转移组.相关性分析显示CXCR4蛋白的表达与肿瘤是否转移有关,与肿瘤复发时间及存活时间有关.结论:CXCR4可以作为判断胆管癌恶性程度高低及预后的指标之一.     

直肠癌术后肺转移72例的临床分析

目的：探讨直肠癌根治术后肺转移的治疗效果和影响预后的因素。方法：回顾性分析1978～2008年间的直肠癌根治术后发生单纯性肺转移的72例病例资料。结果：自原发灶切除术后全组病例中位生存时间34个月,行转移灶的切除手术23例,中位生存49个月;其余49例行非手术治疗,中位生存33个月;其中转移瘤大于3个组中位生存时间28个月,转移瘤小于等于3个组中位生存时间41个月。手术患者和转移灶个数少的患者的总生存率较大,总生存率可能和是否手术、转移灶的个数有关,但尚未发现年龄、性别、原发灶病理类型、分期、转移灶大小对生存率有明显影响。结论：直肠癌肺转移灶的手术治疗是安全、有效的。手术及转移灶个数可影响患者生存率。     

Prognostic value of carcinoma-associated antigen MK-1 in urinary bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The present study has been performed to evaluate the expression of MK-1 in schistosomiasis-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and to correlate this new marker with the conventional histopathological parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paraffin sections of 5-microm thickness from 81 cases were prepared for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis of MK-1 expression was carried out. RESULTS: Forty-six cases (56.8%) were positive for MK-1 protein expression. Significant correlations between MK-1 expression and tumor grade (p=0.004), schistosoma (p=0.031), DNA ploidy (p=0.001), and tumor recurrence (p<0.001) were observed. MK-1, sex, tumor grade, stage, schistosoma, DNA ploidy, and recurrence were evaluated in relation to outcome. Univariate and multivariate analysis of survival were performed. The overall 5-year survival was 51.85%. In univariate analysis, MK-1 expression, tumor grade, DNA ploidy, and recurrence had a significant impact on the survival of these patients. In a Cox proportional hazards model, recurrence maintained its significant impact on survival. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MK-1 is a prognostic marker for recurrence: 34 (87.2%) of 39 recurrent cases were positive for MK-1 expression. However, only recurrence was an independent prognostic factor in patients with schistosomiasis- associated squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder.     

Evaluation of extra capsular lymph node involvement in patients with extra-hepatic bile duct cancer

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is one of the most important prognostic factors for extra-hepatic bile duct carcinoma (ExHBDC). Extra capsular lymph node involvement (ExCLNI) is the extension of cancer cells through the nodal capsule into the perinodal fatty tissue. The prognostic impact of ExCLNI has been shown to be mainly significant in head and neck malignancies. Recently, the prognostic impacts of ExCLNI have been evaluated in gastrointestinal malignancies. However, no data are available regarding the incidence and prognostic significance of extra-capsular lymph node involvement (ExCLNI) in resectable ExHBDCs. The aim of the present study is first to evaluate the incidence of ExCLNI in surgically-treated ExHBDCs and, second, to determine the prognostic impact of ExCLNI in patients with surgically-treated ExHBDCs. METHODS: A total of 228 patients, (110 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and 118 cases of distal cholangiocarcinoma), with surgically-treated ExHBDCs were included in this retrospective study. ExCLNI was defined as the extension of cancer cells through the nodal capsule into the perinodal fatty tissue. The existence of ExCLNI and its prognostic value were analyzed as a subgroup of lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: ExCLNI was detected in only 22% of patients with lymph node metastasis of surgically-treated ExHBDC. The presence of ExCLNI correlated with distal cholangiocarcinoma (P = 0.002). On univariate analysis for survival, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, histological grade, and lymph node metastasis were statistically significant factors. On multivariate analysis, only lymph node metastasis was identified as a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with resectable ExHBDC. Subgroups of lymph node metastasis including the presence of ExCLNI, location of lymph node metastasis, and the number of lymph node metastasis had no statistically significant impact on survival. CONCLUSION: ExCLNI was present in only 22% of the LNM (7% of overall patients) in patients with surgically-treated ExHBDCs. And ExCLNI would have no impact on the survival of patients with surgically-treated ExHBDCs.     

Managing soft tissue sarcomas in a developing country: are prognostic factors similar to those of developed world?

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Managing soft tissue sarcomas (STS) in a developing country with limited financial resources and a poor health referral system is a challenge. Presenting late, these extremity STS are prone to recurrence despite apparently complete resection. This study aimed to explore and compare the impact of clinico-pathological factors on recurrence and survival in Pakistan with the corresponding figures quoted from the developed world. METHODS: An institutional review was performed on all patients with primary STS of the extremities operated on between 1994 and 2008. The prognostic influence of clinical, pathologic, and treatment variables on local recurrence free survival (LRFS), metastasis free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan Meier survival curves. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients with a mean age of 41.8 +/- 21.9 years were included in the study. The local recurrence rate was 14.3% after a median of 6 (mean 7.4) months. Metastases occurred in 7 patients (8.3%) and 65 patients were alive without evidence of disease after a mean follow-up of 52.6 +/- 39.8 months. Tumor size > 5 cm, grade 3 tumors and margin < 10 mm significantly increased local recurrence rates. A margin >= 10 mm and age < 45 years significantly enhanced cumulative survival. Significant multivariate risk factors for metastases were margin < 10 mm and tumor grade G3. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a poor health referral system in our country, our results are no different from those reported from the developed world. Surgical margins and tumor grade prognostically influenced LRFS, MFS and OS.     

新标志物BDH1用于肝细胞癌术后生存的预测价值分析

目的:检测肝细胞癌组织中3-羟基丁酸脱氢酶1 (3-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase 1,BDH1)BDH1的表达情况,探讨其与肝细胞癌患者临床病理特征和术后生存的关系。方法:选取135例肝细胞癌根治性手术患者,整理临床病理及随访资料,调取相应的存档石蜡组织标本切片,采用免疫组化SP方法检测BDH1的表达,对染色结果评分,结合临床病理及随访数据进行统计分析。结果:肝癌细胞中BDH1的阳性表达主要定位于胞浆,阳性表达率为87.4%(118/135),其中低表达占48.1%(65/135),高表达占51.9%(70/135)。BDH1的表达与肝癌细胞癌组织分化级别、肿瘤直径、肿瘤数目、微血管侵犯及TNM分期均显著相关(P0.05)。多因素分析显示BDH1表达、TNM分期、组织分化级别是影响肝癌术后患者预后的独立危险因素(P0.01),BDH1高表达者术后总生存率较低表达者显著升高。结论:BDH1可能作为预测肝癌预后的重要参考指标。     

胆囊癌组织中IL-8表达及TAM计数的临床病理意义

目的:检测胆囊腺癌组织中白细胞介素-8(IL-8)mRNA的表达、肿瘤相关巨噬细胞(TAM)计数并探讨其临床病理意义。方法:收集中南大学湘雅二医院及湖南省人民医院近五年胆囊腺癌手术切除标本36例及慢性胆囊炎手术切除标本10例,采用原位分子杂交方法检测IL-8表达,ABC免疫组化法进行TAM计数。比较胆囊腺癌和慢性胆囊炎标本组织中IL-8 mRNA表达和TAM计数的差异,并分析其与胆囊腺癌临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:胆囊腺癌组织中IL-8 mRNA表达阳性率及其评分均明显高于慢性胆囊炎(P0.01),IL-8 mRNA表达阳性率及其评分与其侵犯胆总管及发生淋巴结转移显著相关(P0.05)。胆囊腺癌组织中TAM计数(24.89±0.84)明显高于慢性胆囊炎组织(16.19±0.66),差异有统计学意义(P0.01);侵犯胆总管、肝脏及发生淋巴结转移的胆囊腺癌组织中TAM计数高于未侵犯胆总管、肝脏及发生淋巴结转移的胆囊腺癌组织TAM计数,其中侵犯胆总管和发生淋巴结转移之间差异显著(P0.01)。IL-8 mRNA阳性病例的TAM计数均明显高于阴性病例(P0.01),TAM计数与IL-8 mRNA评分间也存在显著正相关(r=0.748,P0.001)。结论:IL-8和TAM计数与胆囊癌的发生和发展密切相关,IL-8可能在促进TAM向胆囊癌组织迁移浸润中起作用。     

Comprehensive Clinic-Pathological Characteristics of Cervical Cancer in Southwestern China and the Clinical Significance of Histological Type and Lymph Node Metastases in Young Patients

Objective

To analyze the clinic-pathological characteristics of women with cervical cancers in southwestern China and discuss the features and prognosis of young patients.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed, which consisted of 1,543 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent treatment at West China Second University Hospital between November 2005 and December 2010. Among them, 154 young patients with surgical procedures between November 2005 and December 2008 were selected for a 5-year follow-up and prognostic analysis.

Results

The proportion of advanced FIGO stage in patients aged over 35 years was higher than in patients aged 35 years or younger (55.1% vs 38.8%, P<0.001), and strong correlation was found between FIGO stages and the postoperative pathological risk factors (P<0.05). 312 patients (20.2%) were under 35 years old in the last 5 years. The proportion of cervical adenocarcinoma remained high in young patients (13.6%), and young women with adenocarcinoma had a higher rate of LN metastases, comparing with those with squamous cell carcinoma (42.9% vs 15.8%, P = 0.004). Young patients with adenocarcinoma had shorter progression-free survival than those who had squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.024). Patients aged 35 years or younger with positive postoperative pathological risk factors had shorter progression-free survival, comparing with those with negative factors (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Patients over 35 years were preliminarily diagnosed as advanced FIGO stage and they were more likely to have deep stromal invasion, LVSI, LN metastases, parametrial and surgical margin involvement. Regarding to young patients, cervical adenocarcinoma increased the risk of LN metastases and positive postoperative pathological risk factors could apparently worsen the prognosis. Histological type and LN metastases were independent prognostic factors for young patients in southwestern China. We re-emphasize the importance of health education and regular smear screening for elder women, and more attention should be paid to young patients with adenocarcinoma or LN metastases.     

Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy determined by high-resolution flow cytometry in breast carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of DNA ploidy in breast carcinoma and its relation to other established prognostic factors. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated DNA ploidy in 303 breast carcinoma patients with a median follow-up of 63 months. Flow cytometry was performed on frozen tumor material, yielding histograms with narrow peaks (median coefficient of variation of 2.08). DNA ploidy pattern was classified as either diploid versus nondiploid, euploid (diploid and tetraploid) versus aneuploid or diploid/near-diploid (DNA index < 1.2) versus other, and correlated with relapse-free (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) along with tumor size, histologic grade and type, axillary lymph node involvement, menopausal and steroid receptor status, age and type of treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of tumors were DNA nondiploid (14% tetraploid and 57% aneuploid). There was a strong association between DNA ploidy and histologic grade. Histologic grade, lymph node status, tumor size and DNA ploidy (regardless of the classification used) were all significantly associated with RFS and CSS in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DNA ploidy, at least when determined from frozen tumor tissue, is an independent prognostic factor in breast carcinoma; however, its prognostic power seems to be inferior to that of histologic grade, with which it strongly correlates.     

TACE联合抗病毒治疗HBV相关性肝癌的预后观察及相关因素分析

摘要 目的：分析影响肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）联合抗病毒治疗乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）相关性肝癌预后的相关因素。方法：纳入的130例HBV相关性肝癌选自于本院2018年2月至2020年3月期间所收治，所有患者均行TACE联合抗病毒治疗，记录其生存情况，并对影响患者预后的相关因素进行分析与探讨。结果：130例患者随访截止时，死亡58例，存活72例，中位生存期为24个月，1年生存率为82.31%，2年生存率为55.38%；单因素及多因素Cox回归分析结果显示，肿瘤最大直径、血清AFP、Child-Pugh分级、腹腔转移、门静脉癌栓是患者预后不良的的危险因素。结论：肿瘤最大直径、血清AFP、Child-Pugh分级、腹腔转移、门静脉癌栓是影响TACE联合抗病毒治疗HBV相关性肝癌病患预后的影响因素。     

High preoperative albumin-bilirubin score predicts poor survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas

ObjectiveTo determine the prognostic value of the preoperative Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score in high-grade glioma (HGG) patients.MethodsA retrospective study of 194 HGG patients was conducted. ROC analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of ALBI score. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors associated with progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The resulting prognostic models were externally validated by a demographic-matched cohort of 130 HGG patients.ResultsOptimal cutoff value of ALBI score was -2.941. In training set, ALBI was correlated with age (P = 0.001), tumor location (P = 0.012) and adjuvant therapy (P = 0.016). Both PFS (8.27 vs. 18.40 months, P<0.001) and OS (13.93 vs. 27.57 months, P<0.001) were significantly worse in the ALBI-high group. Strikingly, patients in ALBI-low group had 56% decrease in the risk of tumor progression and 57% decrease in the risk of death relative to high ALBI. Multivariate analysis further identified ALBI score as an independent predictor for both PFS (HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.34, 0.66) and OS (HR=0.45, 95% CI 0.32, 0.63). The ALBI score remained independent prognostic value in the validation set for both PFS (P = 0.01) and OS (P = 0.007). Patients with low ALBI score had better PFS and OS in all subgroups by tumor grade and treatment modalities.ConclusionsThe preoperative ALBI score is a noninvasive and valuable prognostic marker for HGG patients.     

Prognostic biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma: relevance of DNA ploidy in predicting disease-related survival

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of DNA ploidy, Ki-67 index and p53 expression in relation to disease-related survival in a consecutive series of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 RCC patients treated by radical nephrectomy. Histological type, pathological staging and nuclear anaplasia were assessed according to the WHO classification, TNM system and Fuhrman grading criteria, respectively. Ploidy was determined by DNA flow cytometry using two sampling methods (frozen vs paraffin-embedded tissue). Ki-67 and p53 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry techniques using two cutoff points (10% vs mean value) for staining interpretation. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used for prognostic evaluation. RESULTS: Thirty-one tumors (48.4%) showed DNA diploidy and 33 (51.6%) were DNA aneuploid. Concordance between both ploidy measurement methods was found in 85.5% of cases (p=0.0455). The mean values for Ki-67 and p53 immunostaining were 3.65% (0-23.5%) and 5.90% (0-55.9%), respectively. DNA ploidy significantly correlated with staging, tumor size (pT), nuclear grading, and Ki-67 (mean value cutoff). Ki-67 (10% cutoff) correlated with staging and pT, while p53 (mean value cutoff) was associated with Ki-67 (mean value cutoff). There were significant differences between survival curves for pathological stage, pT, nuclear grade, ploidy, Ki-67 (both cutoffs), and p53 (10% cutoff). By univariate regression analysis, stage III and stage IV, pT3, aneuploidy, high Ki-67 (both cutoffs), and p53 overexpression (10% cutoff) showed significant correlations with worse disease-related survival. In addition, DNA aneuploidy significantly correlated with poor prognosis within stages I/II (p=0.0355) and stages III/IV (p=0.0138) of the disease. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that DNA ploidy has relevant prognostic value in RCC, adding useful information to the classic histopathological indicators of clinical outcome.