The 2008 WHO-classification: small and big changes!

Contains fulltext : 81382.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Evaluation of the 5th edition of the TNM classification for gastric cancer: improved prognostic value

The main change in the 5th edition (1997) of the TNM classification for gastric cancer compared to the 4th edition (1987) is the use of the number of involved nodes instead of the location of positive nodes. As a result stage grouping is also altered. A second change is the requirement for the examination of at least 15 nodes to justify the N0 status. Patients with fewer examined negative nodes are unclassifiable (Nx). Data were retrieved from a randomized trial database comparing D1 and D2 dissection and 633 curatively operated patients were included. According to the criteria of the 5th edition, 39% of the node-positive patients had another N stage compared to the 4th: 21% had a lower and 18% had a higher stage. 5-year survival rates according to the 4th edition N0, N1 and N2 groups were respectively 72%, 34% and 27%. According to the 5th edition these percentages were for the N0, N1, N2, N3 and Nx groups respectively 75%, 38%, 19%, 8% and 65%. The former 1987 N1 and N2 group were significantly split into three new N 1997 groups (P = 0.006, respectively P< 0.0005). The Cox's regression analysis showed the N 1997 classification to be the most important prognostic variable, with a higher prognostic value than N 1987. In addition, the new TNM stage was also a better prognosticator. The requirement for examining at least 15 nodes, however, could not be fulfilled in 38% of all node-negative patients and we found that a minimum of 5 consecutive negative lymph nodes is a reliable number for staging purposes. We conclude that the 5th edition of the TNM classification provides a better estimation of prognosis, however, examination of at least 15 negative regional lymph nodes is too high a threshold and 5 gives similar prognostic value. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

The treatment of primary tumors of the femur with chemotherapy (if indicated), resection and reconstruction with an endoprosthesis

The treatment protocol of 15 patients with a primary tumor of the femur, including osteosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and chondrosar-coma is presented. All patients had been selected for resection and reconstruction with an endoprosthesis. An endoprothesis was implanted in 12 patients. \ud The results of this type of treatment appear to be satisfactory. In eight osteosarcoma cases resection and reconstruction with an endoprosthesis combined with preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy, according to Rosen, were performed. Follow-up in all 15 patients, varying from 1.4 to 6.0 years, showed no evidence of disease in 12 patients. Three patients had died. Function of the involved leg was satisfactory in most cases. \ud The advantage and disadvantages of the use of an endoprosthesis are discussed as well as complications in this series of patients

European follow-up of incorrect biomarker results for colorectal cancer demonstrates the importance of quality improvement projects

Item does not contain fulltex

Contribution of plasminogen activators and their inhibitors to the survival prognosis of patients with Dukes' stage B and C colorectal cancer.

Despite the advances in pre-, peri- and post-operative medical care of colorectal carcinoma patients, the prognosis has improved only marginally over recent decades. Thus, additional prognostic indicators would be of great clinical value to select patients for adjuvant therapy. In previous studies we found that colorectal carcinomas have a marked increase of the urokinase-type of plasminogen activator (u-PA), and the inhibitors PAI-1 and PAI-2, whereas the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is found to be decreased in comparison with adjacent normal mucosa. In the present study we evaluated the prognostic value of several plasminogen activation parameters, determined in both normal and carcinomatous tissue from colorectal resection specimens, for overall survival of 136 Dukes' stage B and C colorectal cancer patients, in relation to major clinicopathological parameters. Uni- and multivariate analyses indicated that a high PAI-2 antigen level in carcinoma, a low t-PA activity and antigen level and a high u-PA/t-PA antigen ratio in adjacent normal mucosa are significantly associated with a poor overall survival. A high ratio of u-PA antigen in the carcinomas and t-PA antigen in normal mucosa, i.e. u-PA(C)/t-PA(N), was found to be predictive of a poor overall survival as well. All these parameters were found to be prognostically independent of the clinicopathological parameters. Multivariate analysis of combinations of these prognostically significant plasminogen activation parameters revealed that they are important independent prognostic indicators and have in fact a better prognostic value than their separate components. Based on these combined parameters, subgroups of patients with Dukes' stage B and C colorectal cancer could be identified as having either a high or a low risk regarding overall survival. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the relevance of the intestinal plasminogen activation system for survival prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer and, in the future, might constitute a patient selection criterion for adjuvant therapy

Expression of oncoproteins and the amount of eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltrates can be used as prognostic factors in gastric cancer. Dutch Gastric Cancer Group (DGCG).

Preoperative staging of gastric cancer is difficult. Several molecular markers associated with initiation and progression of cancer seem promising for obtaining preoperative prognostic information. To investigate whether these markers are indicative especially for the presence of lymph node metastases in patients with gastric cancer, we have examined primary tumour specimens from 105 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the stomach entered in a surgical trial. In this trial, lymph node status was determined by strictly quality-controlled lymph node dissection and examination. The selected markers were growth regulators (p53, Rb and myc), metastasis-suppressor gene product (nm23), adhesion molecules (Ep-CAM, E-cadherin, CD44v5 and CD44v6) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Also, the amount of eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltrates available post-operatively was analysed with respect to its prognostic value for lymph node status. Moreover, the association of these parameters with survival and disease-free period (DFP) was evaluated. Of all molecular markers investigated, only Rb expression had a significant association with the presence of lymph node metastasis in both univariate and multivariate analysis. For curative resectability, a significant association was found with Rb and E-cadherin expression, while in multivariate analysis Rb and myc were selected as the combination with additional independent prognostic value, and E-cadherin had no additional independent value. For overall survival in univariate analysis, the amount of both eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltrates and Rb and myc expression were of significant prognostic value. Only the amount of lymphocytic infiltrate had a prognostic significance for DFP. In stepwise multivariate analysis, TNM stage (I + II) and marked lymphocytic infiltrate were associated with better overall survival and longer DFP. We conclude that, if these results are confirmed in a larger series of patients, molecular markers can provide useful prognostic information