Comparison of three predictive scoring systems for morbidity in oncological spine surgery

Outcomes in Patients with Spinal Metastases Managed with Surgical Intervention

BACKGROUND

Spinal metastases are a significant cause of morbidity in patients with advanced cancer, and management often requires surgical intervention. Although prior studies have identified factors that influence outcomes with surgery, the ability of these factors to predict outcomes remains unclear in the era of contemporary therapies, and there is a need to better identify patients who are likely to benefit from surgery.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis to evaluate risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with spinal metastases treated with surgery. The primary outcome was mortality at 180 days.

RESULTS

A total of 128 patients were identified. Age ≥ 65 years at surgery (p = 0.0316), presence of extraspinal metastases (p = 0.0110), and ECOG performance scores >1 (p = 0.0397) were associated with mortality at 180 days on multivariate analysis. These factors and BMI ≤ 30 mg/kg2 (p = 0.0008) were also associated with worse overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Age > 65, extraspinal metastases, and performance status scores >1 are factors associated with mortality at 180 days in patients with spinal metastases treated with surgery. Patients with these factors and BMI ≤ 30 mg/kg2 had worse overall survival. Our results support multidisciplinary discussions regarding the benefits and risks associated with surgery in patients with these risk factors.

Interpretations of the Role of Plasma Albumin in Prognostic Indices: A Literature Review

This review assesses how publications interpret factors that influence the serum or plasma albumin (PA) level in prognostic indices, focusing on inflammation and nutrition. On PubMed, a search for "albumin AND prognosis" yielded 23,919 results. From these records, prognostic indices were retrieved, and their names were used as search strings on PubMed. Indices found in 10 or more original research articles were included. The same search strings, restricted to "Review" or "Systematic review", retrieved yielded on the indices. The data comprised the 10 latest original research articles and up to 10 of the latest reviews. Thirty indices had 294 original research articles (6 covering two indices) and 131 reviews, most of which were from recent years. A total of 106 articles related the PA level to inflammation, and 136 related the PA level to nutrition. For the reviews, the equivalent numbers were 54 and 65. In conclusion, more publications mention the PA level as a marker of nutrition rather than inflammation. This is in contrast to several general reviews on albumin and nutritional guidelines, which state that the PA level is a marker of inflammation but not nutrition. Hypoalbuminemia should prompt clinicians to focus on the inflammatory aspects in their patients.

Can We Use Artificial Intelligence Cluster Analysis to Identify Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer to the Spine at Highest Risk of Postoperative Adverse Events?

OBJECTIVE

Group patients who required open surgery for metastatic breast cancer to the spine by functional level and metastatic disease characteristics to identify factors that predispose to poor outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis included patients managed at 2 tertiary referral centers from 2008 to 2020. The primary outcome was a 90-day adverse event. A 2-step unsupervised cluster analysis stratified patients into cohorts using function at presentation, preoperative spine radiation, structural instability, epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC), neural deficits, and tumor location/hormone status. Comparisons were performed using χ2 test and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Five patient "clusters" were identified. High function (HIGH) had thoracic metastases and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 1.0 ± 0.8. Low function/irradiated (LOW + RADS) had preoperative radiation and the lowest Karnofsky scores (56.0 ± 10.6). Estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive patients had >90% estrogen/progesterone positivity and moderate Karnofsky scores (74.0 ± 11.5). Lumbar/noncompressive (NON-COMP) had the fewest patients with ESCC grade 2 or 3 epidural disease (42.1%, P < 0.001). Low function/neurologic deficits (LOW + NEURO) had ESCC grade 2 or 3 disease and neurologic deficits. Adverse event rates were 25.0% in the HIGH group, 73.3% in LOW + RADS, 24.0% in ER/PR, 31.6% in NON-COMP, and 60.0% in LOW + NEURO (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Function at presentation, tumor hormone signature, radiation history, and epidural compression delineated postoperative trajectory. We believe our results can aid in expectation management and the identification of at-risk patients who may merit closer surveillance following surgical intervention.

Research progress of bone metastases: From disease recognition to clinical practice

Bone metastases, as one of the common types of metastatic tumors, have a great impact on the survival period and quality of life of patients. Bone metastases are usually characterized by bone destruction. Skeletal related events caused by bone destruction often lead to pain, pathological fractures and even paralysis. In this review, we provide a detailed explanation of bone metastases from the epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, and recently developed clinical treatment viewpoints. We concluded that the incidence of bone metastases is increasing gradually, with serious clinical symptoms, complex pathogenesis and diverse clinical treatment. Tumor cells, immune cells, osteoblasts/osteoclasts and other cells as well as cytokines and enzymes all play a key role in the pathogenesis of bone metastases. We believe that the future treatment of bone metastases will be diversified and comprehensive. Some advanced technologies, such as nanomedicine, could be used for treatment, but this depends on understanding how disease occurs. With the development of treatment, the survival time and quality of life of patients will be improved.