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Mantas A, Otto CC, Olthof PB, Heise D, Hoyer DP, Bruners P, Dewulf M, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Neumann UP, Bednarsch J. Clinical features and prediction of long-term survival after surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304838. [PMID: 38950006 PMCID: PMC11216605 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The treatment of perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) poses specific challenges not only due to its high perioperative complication rates but also due its dismal long-term prognosis with only a few long-term survivors (LTS) among the patients. Therefore, in this analysis characteristics and predictors of LTS in pCCA patients are investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this single center analysis, patients undergoing curative-intent liver resection for pCCA between 2010 and 2022 were categorized into long-term and short-term survivors (STS) excluding perioperative mortality. Binary logistic regression was used to determine key differences between the groups and to develop a prognostic composite variable. This composite variable was subsequently tested in the whole cohort of surgically treated pCCA patients using Cox Regression analysis for cancer-specific survival (CSS). RESULTS Within a cohort of 209 individuals, 27 patients were identified as LTS (median CSS = 125 months) and 55 patients as STS (median CSS = 16 months). Multivariable analysis identified preoperative portal vein infiltration (OR = 5.85, p = 0.018) and intraoperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions (OR = 10.29, p = 0.002) as key differences between the groups. A prognostic composite variable based on these two features was created and transferred into a Cox regression model of the whole cohort. Here, the composite variable (HR = 0.35, p<0.001), lymph node metastases (HR = 2.15, p = 0.001) and postoperative complications (HR = 3.06, p<0.001) were identified as independent predictors of CSS. CONCLUSION Long-term survival after surgery for pCCA is possible and is strongly negatively associated with preoperative portal vein infiltration and intraoperative PRBC transfusion. As these variables are part of preoperative staging or can be modulated by intraoperative technique, the proposed prognostic composite variable can easily be transferred into clinical management to predict the oncological outcome of patients undergoing surgery for pCCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mantas
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Carlos Constantin Otto
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pim B. Olthof
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Heise
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dieter Paul Hoyer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maxim Dewulf
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Otto CC, Mantas A, Heij LR, Heise D, Dewulf M, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Dahl E, Bruners P, Neumann UP, Bednarsch J. Preoperative predictors for non-resectability in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:48. [PMID: 38326854 PMCID: PMC10851609 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Explorative laparotomy without subsequent curative-intent liver resection remains a major clinical problem in the treatment of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). Thus, we aimed to identify preoperative risk factors for non-resectability of pCCA patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients undergoing surgical exploration between 2010 and 2022 were eligible for the analysis. Separate binary logistic regressions analyses were used to determine risk factors for non-resectability after explorative laparotomy due to technical (tumor extent, vessel infiltration) and oncological (peritoneal carcinomatosis, distant nodal or liver metastases)/liver function reasons. RESULTS This monocentric cohort comprised 318 patients with 209 (65.7%) being surgically resected and 109 (34.3%) being surgically explored [explorative laparotomy: 87 (27.4%), laparoscopic exploration: 22 (6.9%)]. The median age in the cohort was 69 years (range 60-75) and a majority had significant comorbidities with ASA-Score ≥ 3 (202/318, 63.5%). Statistically significant (p < 0.05) risk factors for non-resectability were age above 70 years (HR = 3.76, p = 0.003), portal vein embolization (PVE, HR = 5.73, p = 0.007), and arterial infiltration > 180° (HR = 8.05 p < 0.001) for technical non-resectability and PVE (HR = 4.67, p = 0.018), arterial infiltration > 180° (HR = 3.24, p = 0.015), and elevated CA 19-9 (HR = 3.2, p = 0.009) for oncological/liver-functional non-resectability. CONCLUSION Advanced age, PVE, arterial infiltration, and elevated CA19-9 are major risk factors for non-resectability in pCCA. Preoperative assessment of those factors is crucial for better therapeutical pathways. Diagnostic laparoscopy, especially in high-risk situations, should be used to reduce the amount of explorative laparotomies without subsequent liver resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Constantin Otto
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anna Mantas
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lara Rosaline Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Heise
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maxime Dewulf
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Edgar Dahl
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
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Mantas A, Liu D, Otto CC, Heij LR, Heise D, Bruners P, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Neumann UP, Bednarsch J. Time to surgery is not an oncological risk factor in patients with cholangiocarcinoma undergoing curative-intent liver surgery. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1644. [PMID: 38238432 PMCID: PMC10796920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50842-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Surgical resection is the only option to achieve long-term survival in cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA). Due to limitations of health care systems and unforeseeable events, e.g., the COVID pandemic, the time from diagnosis to surgery (time-to-surgery (TTS)) has gained great interest in malignancies. Thus, we investigated whether TTS is associated with the oncological outcome in patients who underwent surgery for CCA. A cohort of 276 patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for intrahepatic and perihilar CCA excluding individuals with neoadjuvant therapy and perioperative mortality between 2010 and 2021 were eligible for analysis. Patients were grouped according to TTS (≤ 30; 31-60; 61-90; > 90 days) and compared by Kruskal-Wallis-analysis. Survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and characteristics associated with cancer-specific survival (CSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) using Cox regressions. The median CSS was 39 months (3-year-CSS = 52%, 5-year-CSS = 42%) and the median RFS 20 months (3-year-CSS = 38%, 5-year-CSS = 33%). In univariable Cox regressions, TTS was not associated with CSS (p = 0.971) or RFS (p = 0.855), respectively. A grouped analysis with respect to TTS (≤ 30 days, n = 106; 31-60 days, n = 134; 61-90 days, n = 44; > 90 days, n = 29) displayed a median CSS of 38, 33, 51 and 41 months and median RFS of 17, 22, 28 and 20 months (p = 0.971 log rank; p = 0.520 log rank). No statistical difference regarding oncological risk factors were observed between the groups. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of TTS in CCA patients. Within a representative European cohort, TTS was not associated with earlier tumor recurrence or reduced CCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mantas
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Carlos Constantin Otto
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lara Rosaline Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Heise
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Tan X, Bednarsch J, Rosin M, Appinger S, Liu D, Wiltberger G, Garcia Vallejo J, Lang SA, Czigany Z, Boroojerdi S, Gaisa NT, Boor P, Bülow RD, De Vos-Geelen J, Valkenburg-van Iersel L, Clahsen-van Groningen MC, de Jong EJM, Groot Koerkamp B, Doukas M, Rocha FG, Luedde T, Klinge U, Sivakumar S, Neumann UP, Heij LR. PD-1+ T-Cells Correlate with Nerve Fiber Density as a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Resected Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092190. [PMID: 35565318 PMCID: PMC9103905 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent studies have identified Nerve Fiber Density (NFD) as a prognostic biomarker for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In the field of CCA treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is increasing but not all patients respond. Good biomarkers to predict response to ICI are lacking. The present study investigates the immune cell composition and expression of checkpoint molecules in relation to NFD in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) patients. Our study identified NFD to correlate with PD-1+ T cells as a biomarker indicative for a good prognosis. Abstract Background and Aims: Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is a hepatobiliary malignancy, with a dismal prognosis. Nerve fiber density (NFD)—a novel prognostic biomarker—describes the density of small nerve fibers without cancer invasion and is categorized into high numbers and low numbers of small nerve fibers (high vs low NFD). NFD is different than perineural invasion (PNI), defined as nerve fiber trunks invaded by cancer cells. Here, we aim to explore differences in immune cell populations and survival between high and low NFD patients. Approach and Results: We applied multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) on 47 pCCA patients and investigated immune cell composition in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of high and low NFD. Group comparison and oncological outcome analysis was performed. CD8+PD-1 expression was higher in the high NFD than in the low NFD group (12.24 × 10−6 vs. 1.38 × 10−6 positive cells by overall cell count, p = 0.017). High CD8+PD-1 expression was further identified as an independent predictor of overall (OS; Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.41; p = 0.031) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; HR = 0.40; p = 0.039). Correspondingly, the median OS was 83 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 18–48) in patients with high CD8+PD-1+ expression compared to 19 months (95% CI: 5–93) in patients with low CD8+PD-1+ expression (p = 0.018 log rank). Furthermore, RFS was significantly lower in patients with low CD8+PD-1+ expression (14 months (95% CI: 6–22)) compared to patients with high CD8+PD-1+ expression (83 months (95% CI: 17–149), p = 0.018 log rank). Conclusions: PD-1+ T-cells correlate with high NFD as a prognostic biomarker and predict good survival; the biological pathway needs to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiang Tan
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Mika Rosin
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Simone Appinger
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Georg Wiltberger
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Juan Garcia Vallejo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Shiva Boroojerdi
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Nadine T. Gaisa
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Roman David Bülow
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Judith De Vos-Geelen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | - Liselot Valkenburg-van Iersel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | | | - Evelien J. M. de Jong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | - Bas Groot Koerkamp
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michail Doukas
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (M.C.C.-v.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Flavio G. Rocha
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Duesseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Uwe Klinge
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK;
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lara Rosaline Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (M.C.C.-v.G.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence:
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The Value of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020438. [PMID: 35053599 PMCID: PMC8773915 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio has shown prognostic value in several malignancies; however, its role in cholangiocarcinoma remains to be determined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the currently available literature. Overall, our analysis revealed that a high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio before treatment is associated with an impaired long-term oncological outcome. Further, our results indicate that this assumption was not influenced by the used treatment modality (surgical vs. non-surgical), PLR cut-off values, study population age, or sample size of the included studies. Thus, an elevated pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio has valid prognostic value for cholangiocarcinoma patients. Abstract The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), an inflammatory parameter, has shown prognostic value in several malignancies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of pretreatment PLR on the oncological outcome in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A systematic literature search has been carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for pertinent papers published between January 2000 and August 2021. Within a random-effects model, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to investigate the relationships among the PLR, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also conducted to further evaluate the relationship. A total of 20 articles comprising 5429 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled outcomes revealed that a high PLR before treatment is associated with impaired OS (HR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.06–1.24; p < 0.01) and DFS (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.19–2.07; p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed that this association is not influenced by the treatment modality (surgical vs. non-surgical), PLR cut-off values, or sample size of the included studies. An elevated pretreatment PLR is prognostic for the OS and DFS of CCA patients. More high-quality studies are required to investigate the pathophysiological basis of the observation and the prognostic value of the PLR in clinical management as well as for patient selection.
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