Prognostic Significance of Tumor Necrosis in Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Prognostic Significance of Tumor Necrosis in Patients with Gallbladder Carcinoma Undergoing Curative-Intent Resection

BACKGROUND

Tumor necrosis has been indicated to correlate with dismal survival outcomes of a variety of solid tumors. However, the significance and prognostic value of tumor necrosis remain unclear in gallbladder carcinoma. The aim of this research is to explore the relationships between necrosis with long-term survival and tumor-related biological characteristics of patients with gallbladder carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with gallbladder carcinoma who accepted curative-intent resection in West China Hospital of Sichuan University (China) between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor necrosis was determined by staining the patient's original tissue sections with hematoxylin and eosin. Based on the presence of tumor necrosis, the pathologic features and survival outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 213 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who underwent curative-intent surgery, of whom 89 had tumor necrosis. Comparative analyses indicated that patients with tumor necrosis had more aggressive clinicopathological features, such as larger tumor size (p = 0.002), poorer tumor differentiation (p = 0.029), more frequent vascular invasion (p < 0.001), presence of lymph node metastasis (p = 0.014), and higher tumor status (p = 0.01), and experienced poorer survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that tumor necrosis was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (multivariate: HR 1.651, p = 0.026) and disease-free survival (multivariate: HR 1.589, p = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor necrosis can be considered as an independent predictive factor for overall survival and disease-free survival among individuals with gallbladder carcinoma, which was a valuable pathologic parameter.

Preoperative MRI features predicting very early recurrence of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma after R0 resection: a comparison with the AJCC 8th edition staging system

PURPOSE

This study aimed to establish a nomogram based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features to predict the very early recurrence (VER, less than 6 months) of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) after R0 resection.

METHODS

This study enrolled a group of 193 IMCC patients from our institution between March 2010 and January 2022. Patients were allocated into the development cohort (n = 137) and the validation cohort (n = 56), randomly, and the preoperative clinical and MRI features were collected. Univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression assessments were adopted to assess predictors of VER. Nomogram was constructed and certificated in the validation cohort. The performance of the prediction nomogram was evaluated by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. The performance of the nomogram was compared with the T stage of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition staging system.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients (27.5%) experienced VER of the tumor and 140 patients (72.5%) with non-VER, during the follow-up period. After multivariate stepwise logistic regression, number of lesions, diffuse hypoenhancement on arterial phase, necorsis and suspicious lymph nodes were independently associated with VER. The nomogram demonstrated significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.813 than T stage (AUC = 0.666, P = 0.006) in the development cohort, whereas in the validation cohort, the nomogram showed better discrimination performance, with an AUC of 0.808 than T stage (0.705) with no significantly difference (P = 0.230). Decision curve analysis reflected the clinical net benefit of the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram based on preoperative MRI features is a reliable tool to predict VER for patients with IMCC after R0 resection. This nomogram will be helpful to improve survival prediction and individualized treatment.

Intrinsic cancer cell phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ regulates fibrosis and vascular development in cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The class I- phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3Ks) signalling is dysregulated in almost all human cancers whereas the isoform-specific roles remain poorly investigated. We reported that the isoform δ (PI3Kδ) regulated epithelial cell polarity and plasticity and recent developments have heightened its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and solid tumour progression. However, its role in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) still lacks investigation.

APPROACH & RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analyses of CCA samples reveal a high expression of PI3Kδ in the less differentiated CCA. The RT-qPCR and immunoblot analyses performed on CCA cells stably overexpressing PI3Kδ using lentiviral construction reveal an increase of mesenchymal and stem cell markers and the pluripotency transcription factors. CCA cells stably overexpressing PI3Kδ cultured in 3D culture display a thick layer of ECM at the basement membrane and a wide single lumen compared to control cells. Similar data are observed in vivo, in xenografted tumours established with PI3Kδ-overexpressing CCA cells in immunodeficient mice. The expression of mesenchymal and stemness genes also increases and tumour tissue displays necrosis and fibrosis, along with a prominent angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, as in mice liver of AAV8-based-PI3Kδ overexpression. These PI3Kδ-mediated cell morphogenesis and stroma remodelling were dependent on TGFβ/Src/Notch signalling. Whole transcriptome analysis of PI3Kδ using the cancer cell line encyclopedia allows the classification of CCA cells according to cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results support the critical role of PI3Kδ in the progression and aggressiveness of CCA via TGFβ/src/Notch-dependent mechanisms and open new directions for the classification and treatment of CCA patients.

Impact of induction therapy in locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

After local or systemic treatment, a small number of patients with primarily unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) may benefit from secondary resection. This study aimed to analyze the oncological outcome of patients who underwent radical surgery after preoperative treatment.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2021, all patients who underwent curative-intent liver resection for ICC in three tertiary centers were selected. Patients were divided into two groups: upfront surgery (US) and preoperative treatment (POT). Oncologic data (preoperative treatment, histologic data, adjuvant chemotherapy, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Among 198 included patients, 31 (15.7%) received POT including chemotherapy (74.2%), radioembolization (12.9%), chemoembolization (9.7%), or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy (3.2%). Major resection was performed in 156 (78.8%) patients, and 53 (26.8%) had vascular and/or biliary reconstruction. Histological findings were similar between US and POT group and were not affected by the type of POT. After a median follow-up of 23 months, recurrence rate (58.1% POT vs. 55.1% US, p = 0.760) and type were similar between groups. Recurrence-free survival at 1 and 3 years (41.9% and 22.6% vs. 46.7 and 21.6% in the POT and US, respectively, p = 0.989) and overall survival at 1 and 3 years (77.4% and 32.3% vs. 69.5% and 34.7% in the POT and US respectively, p = 0.323) were similar and independent of the POT type.

CONCLUSION

After POT, downstaged patients who underwent curative-intent resection for initially unresectable ICC have similar long-term outcomes as those undergoing upfront surgery.

Necrosis as a strong independent prognostic factor required in the implementation of pathological reporting for pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection specimens

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a major public health issue with an incidence/mortality ratio reaching 98 %. Only 15-20 % of patients with PDAC can undergo surgery. Following PDAC surgical resection, 80 % of patients will experience local or metastatic recurrence of this disease. pTNM staging is the gold standard for risk stratification but is not sufficient to recapitulate the prognosis. Several prognostic factors are known to impact survival after surgery when uncovered during pathological examination. However, necrosis has been poorly studied in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS & METHODS

We retrieved clinical data and reviewed all tumor slides from patients who had a pancreatic surgery between January 2004 and December 2017, in the Hospices Civils de Lyon, to assess the presence of histopathological prognosis factors associated with poor prognosis.

RESULTS

514 patients with complete clinico-pathological description were included. Necrosis was found in 231 PDAC (44.9 %) and had an important impact on overall survival with a double risk of death when present in tumor samples (HR: 1.871, 95 % CI [1.523; 2.299], p < 0.001). When integrated in the multivariate model, necrosis is the only morphological aggressive feature to retain high statistical significance associated with the TNM staging but independently of it. This effect is independent of the preoperative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Despites improvement in treatment of PDAC, mortality rates remain relatively stable amongst the last years. There is a desperate need to better stratify patients. Here, we report the strong and prognostic impact of necrosis in surgical PDAC samples and encourage pathologists to report its presence in the future.

Tumor micronecrosis predicts poor prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Tumor micronecrosis is a histopathological feature predicting poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver resection. However, the role of tumor micronecrosis in liver transplantation remains unclear.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with HCC who underwent liver transplantation between January 2015 and December 2021 at our center. We then classified them into micronecrosis(-) and micronecrosis(+) groups and compared their recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). We identified independent prognostic factors using Cox regression analysis and calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive value of RFS for patients with HCC after liver transplantation.

RESULTS

A total of 370 cases with evaluable histological sections were included. Patients of the micronecrosis(+) group had a significantly shorter RFS than those of the micronecrosis(-) group (P = 0.037). Shorter RFS and OS were observed in micronecrosis(+) patients without bridging treatments before liver transplantation (P = 0.002 and P = 0.007), while no differences were detected in those with preoperative antitumor therapies that could cause iatrogenic tumor necrosis. Tumor micronecrosis improved the AUC of Milan criteria (0.77-0.79), the model for end-stage liver disease score (0.70-0.76), and serum alpha-fetoprotein (0.63-0.71) for the prediction of prognosis after liver transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Patients with HCC with tumor micronecrosis suffer from a worse prognosis than those without this feature. Tumor micronecrosis can help predict RFS after liver transplantation. Therefore, patients with HCC with tumor micronecrosis should be treated with adjuvant therapy and closely followed after liver transplantation.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

Not Applicable.

The Extent of Necrosis in Brain Metastases May Predict Subtypes of Primary Cancer and Overall Survival in Patients Receiving Craniotomy

Although necrosis is common in brain metastasis (BM), its biological and clinical significances remain unknown. We evaluated necrosis extent differences by primary cancer subtype and correlated BM necrosis to overall survival post-craniotomy. We analyzed 145 BMs of patients receiving craniotomy. Necrosis to tumor ratio (NTR) was measured. Patients were divided into two groups by NTR: BMs with sparse necrosis and with abundant necrosis. Clinical features were compared. To investigate factor relevance for BM necrosis, multivariate logistic regression, random forests, and gradient boosting machine analyses were performed. Kaplan−Meier analysis and log-rank tests were performed to evaluate the effect of BM necrosis on overall survival. Lung cancer was a more common origin for BMs with abundant necrosis (42/72, 58.33%) versus sparse necrosis (23/73, 31.51%, p < 0.01). Primary cancer subtype and tumor volume were the most relevant factors for BM necrosis (p < 0.01). BMs harboring moderately abundant necrosis showed longer survival, versus sparse or highly abundant necrosis (p = 0.04). Lung cancer BM may carry larger necrosis than BMs from other cancers. Further, moderately abundant necrosis in BM may predict a good prognosis post-craniotomy.

Tumor Necrosis Impacts Prognosis of Patients Undergoing Resection for T1 Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prognostic impact of tumor necrosis among patients undergoing resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains ill-defined.

METHODS

Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for ICC between 2000 and 2017 were identified using a multi-institutional database. The association of pathologic tumor necrosis with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was examined.

RESULTS

Among 757 patients who underwent resection for ICC, tumor necrosis was present in 384 (50.7%) patients (no necrosis: n = 373, 49.3%; <50% necrosis: n = 291, 38.4%; ≥50% necrosis: n = 93, 12.3%). Tumor necrosis was associated with worse OS (5-year OS: no necrosis 39.3% vs. <50% necrosis 34.7% and ≥50% necrosis 24.0%; p = 0.03) and RFS (5-year RFS: no necrosis 25.7% vs. <50% necrosis 13.9% and ≥50% necrosis 18.8%; p < 0.001). After stratifying by T stage, tumor necrosis was able to further stratify prognosis among patients with T1a ICC (5-year RFS: T1a and no necrosis 46.7% vs. T1a and necrosis 36.1%; p = 0.02), and T1b ICC (5-year RFS: T1b and no necrosis 31.1% vs. T1b and necrosis 11.2%; p = 0.006), but was not associated with outcomes among patients with more advanced T2-T3 disease. Patients with T1a ICC and tumor necrosis had similar 5-year RFS as individuals with T1b ICC and no tumor necrosis (36.1% vs. 31.1%; p = 0.66).

CONCLUSION

Tumor necrosis was associated with worse prognosis among patients with T1 ICC. Tumor necrosis for T1 ICC should be considered as an important factor to further stratify outcomes of patients with early T-stage ICC.

Tumor-associated epilepsy in patients with brain metastases: necrosis-to-tumor ratio forecasts postoperative seizure freedom

Surgical resection is highly effective in the treatment of tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) in patients with brain metastases (BM). Nevertheless, some patients suffer from postoperative persistent epilepsy which negatively impacts health-related quality of life. Therefore, early identification of patients with potentially unfavorable seizure outcome after BM resection is important. Patients with TRE that had undergone surgery for BM at the authors’ institution between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed with regard to preoperatively identifiable risk factors for unfavorable seizure outcome. Tumor tissue and tumor necrosis ratios were assessed volumetrically. According to the classification of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), seizure outcome was categorized as favorable (ILAE 1) and unfavorable (ILAE 2–6) after 3 months in order to avoid potential interference with adjuvant cancer treatment. Among all 38 patients undergoing neurosurgical treatment for BM with concomitant TRE, 34 patients achieved a favorable seizure outcome (90%). Unfavorable seizure outcome was significantly associated with larger tumor volumes (p = 0.012), a midline shift > 7 mm (p = 0.025), and a necrosis/tumor volume ratio > 0.2 (p = 0.047). The present study identifies preoperatively collectable risk factors for unfavorable seizure outcome in patients with BM and TRE. This might enable to preselect for highly vulnerable patients with postoperative persistent epilepsy who might benefit from accompanying neuro-oncological expertise during further systemical treatment regimes.

Tumor Necrosis Impacts Prognosis of Patients Undergoing Curative-Intent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The impact of tumor necrosis relative to prognosis among patients undergoing curative-intent resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains ill-defined.

METHODS

Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for HCC without any prior treatment between 2000 and 2017 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. Tumor necrosis was graded as absent, moderate (< 50% area), or extensive (≥ 50% area) on histological examination. The relationship between tumor necrosis, clinicopathologic characteristics, and long-term survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 919 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for HCC, the median tumor size was 5.0 cm (IQR, 3.0-8.5). Tumor necrosis was present in 367 (39.9%) patients (no necrosis: n = 552, 60.1% vs < 50% necrosis: n = 256, 27.9% vs ≥ 50% necrosis: n = 111, 12.1%). Extent of tumor necrosis was also associated with more advanced tumor characteristics. HCC necrosis was associated with OS (median OS: no necrosis, 84.0 months vs < 50% necrosis, 73.6 months vs ≥ 50% necrosis: 59.3 months; p < 0.001) and RFS (median RFS: no necrosis, 49.6 months vs < 50% necrosis, 38.3 months vs ≥ 50% necrosis: 26.5 months; p < 0.05). Patients with T1 tumors with extensive ≥ 50% necrosis had an OS comparable to patients with T2 tumors (median OS, 62.9 vs 61.8 months; p = 0.645). In addition, patients with T2 disease with necrosis had long-term outcomes comparable to patients with T3 disease (median OS, 61.8 vs 62.4 months; p = 0.713).

CONCLUSION

Tumor necrosis was associated with worse OS and RFS, as well as T-category upstaging of patients. A modified AJCC T classification that incorporates tumor necrosis should be considered in prognostic stratification of HCC patients.

Salvage Endoscopic Nasopharyngectomy in Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the demographics, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors of salvage endoscopic nasopharyngectomy in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 189 patients who underwent treatment for recurrent NPC from January 2006 to June 2018. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to assess survival rates. A Cox regression model was used for multivariate survival analyses.

RESULTS

We included 132 men and 57 women in the study, with a median age of 51 (range, 25-85) years. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 82.2%, 59.5%, and 43.6%, respectively, during a median follow-up of 24 (range, 2-111) months. In subjects over 50 years of age, diabetes, low body mass index (BMI < 20 kg/m²), low hemoglobin (<120 g/l) levels, increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; ≥ 6), advanced T stage (rT3 and rT4), lymph node metastasis, and positive surgical margins were associated with a poor prognosis in terms of overall survival. Cox multivariate regression analyses showed significant differences in age, BMI, NLR, diabetes, T stage, N stage, and tumor necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In subjects over 50 years of age, diabetes, low BMI, increased NLR, advanced T stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumor necrosis were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

Recipient Hepatic Tumor-Associated Immunologic Infiltrates Predict Outcomes After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Transplantation of the liver entails a state of altered recipient immunologic competence. There are only scarce data concerning the impact of host immunologic factors on the outcome of liver transplant recipients in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Material/Methods

Our study focused on evaluating the presence of tumor necrosis and frequency levels of angiopoietins and monocytes/macrophages subtypes in the host liver prior to liver transplantation (LTX) and their association with recurrence, graft rejection, survival, and clinical prognosis after LTX. Formation of tumor necrosis and tissue densities of angiopoietins and cellular immunologic infiltrates – CD68⁺ and CD163⁺ macrophages (TAMs) and TIE2-expressing monocytes (TEMs) – were quantified in recipient HCC specimens. The densities were then matched with clinicopathologic variables and patient survival after LTX (n=88). Some patients were treated prior to LTX by neoadjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, n=55).

Results

Recipient hepatic infiltration with TEMs and CD68⁺ TAMs was associated with decreased 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival, as well as metastatic and recurrent HCC after LTX (all p<0.05). TEMs and infiltrating monocytes/macrophages were associated with angiopoietin expression, metastatic, and recurrent HCC (all p<0.05). Furthermore, hepatic angiopoietin-2 expression was associated with graft rejection after LTX (p<0.05). After TACE and LTX, formation of tumor necrosis was associated with an increased presence of monocytes/macrophages and a reduced incidence of recurrent HCC in the graft (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Infiltrating monocytes/macrophages subsets and related angiopoietin axis are associated with worse survival, tumor recurrence, and clinical outcome after LTX for HCC.

Risk Factors of Tumor Recurrence After Liver Transplantation for Combined Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is commonly diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) preoperatively. Therefore, unexpected recurrence occurs in some patients after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors of recurrence.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 20 patients who underwent LT for cHCC-CC from January 2005 to December 2015.

RESULTS

Of the 20 patients, 11 (55%) had concurrent HCC and 10 (50%) had multiple cHCC-CCs. Before LT, 13 patients had undergone transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, n = 9), radiofrequency ablation, and TACE (n = 3) or surgical resection (n = 1). Four of the patients (20%) had the classical type, whereas 16 (80%) had subtypes with stem cell features. Six of the 16 patients (37.5%) with subtypes with stem cell features and 3 of the 4 patients (75%) with the classical type showed recurrence after LT. In multivariate analysis, the classical type was significantly associated with poorer recurrence-free survival (RFS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 8.65, confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-60.05, P = .03) and poorer overall survival (HR: 8.89, CI: 1.37-57.84, P = .02). Spontaneous tumor necrosis also showed significance on RFS (P = .03) among 11 patients with nontreated lesions.

CONCLUSION

In cHCC-CC, the classical type and spontaneous tumor necrosis were associated with recurrence. If these risk factors are found after LT, short-interval follow-up and strategies such as chemotherapy and/or use of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors to prevent recurrence are needed.

Angiogenic inflammation and formation of necrosis in the tumor microenvironment influence patient survival after radical surgery for de novo hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhosis

Background

Tumor escape mechanisms mediated in the tumor microenvironment can significantly reduce the capacity of the anti-tumor function of the immune system. TIE2-expressing monocytes (TEMs), related angiopoietins, and tumor necrosis are considered to have a key role in this process. We aimed to investigate the abundance and clinical significance of these biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

In this retrospective study, 58 HCC patients received surgery with a curative intent. The abundance of TEMs, angiopoietin-1 and -2 were detected in tumor specimens of the HCC patients (n = 58), and together with the occurrence of histologic tumor necrosis, were associated with established clinicopathological characteristics and survival.

Results

Patients with HCC characterized by necrosis and TEMs revealed reduced both overall survival and recurrence-free survival (all p < 0.05). Angiopoietins and TEMs were associated with metastatic and recurrent HCC. Furthermore, the formation of histologic tumor necrosis was associated with advanced tumor stage and density of TEMs (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Histologic tumor necrosis, TEMs, and related angiopoietins were associated with multiple HCC parameters and patient survival. The tumor necrosis–TEM–angiopoietin axis may offer a novel diagnostic modality to predict patient outcome after surgery for HCC.

Immunologic cellular characteristics of the tumour microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma drive patient outcomes

Background

Anti-tumour immune competence has an impact in hepatocarcinogenesis and success of anti-cancer therapies. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and monocytes/macrophages (TAMs) are proposed to have significance in cancer. However, there is only limited data concerning their impact on patient outcome and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Frequencies of CD68⁺, CD163⁺ M2-polarized TAMs and TILs were measured in de novo HCC tumours in non-cirrhosis (n = 58) using immunohistology and correlated to patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates.

Results

Patients with tumours marked by appearance of TILs and CD68⁺ TAMs showed an improved 1-, 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (all p ≤ 0.05). CD68⁺ TAMs were associated with reduced incidence of recurrent and multifocal disease. Conversely, CD163⁺ TAMs were associated with multifocal HCC and lymphangiosis carcinomatosa (all p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

TILs and CD68⁺ TAMs are associated with multiple tumour characteristics and patient survival in HCC. However, there is only scarce data about the biology underlying their mechanistic involvement in human tumour progression. Thus, experimental data on functional links might help develop novel immunologic checkpoint inhibitor targets for liver cancer.

Clinical Significance of Preoperative Serum CEA, CA125, and CA19-9 Levels in Predicting the Resectability of Cholangiocarcinoma

To explore the clinical significance of preoperative serum CEA, CA125, and CA19-9 levels in predicting the resectability of cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed by radiologic examination and admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from September 1, 2011, to November 30, 2017, were retrospectively included. The relationship between the preoperative serum CEA, CA125, and CA19-9 levels and the resectability of cholangiocarcinoma was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, as well as the best cut-off point. A total of 112 met the inclusion criteria. In 50 patients with radical surgeries, the levels of preoperative serums CEA, CA125, and CA19-9 were 5.0 ± 13.9 ng/mL, 15.3 ± 11.8 U/mL, and 257.5 ± 325.6 U/mL, respectively, which were lower than those in patients with unresectable tumor. Based on the ROC curve, the ideal CA19-9 cut-off value was determined to be 1064.1 U/mL in prediction of resectability, with a sensitivity of 53.2%, a specificity of 94.0%, and the area under the ROC curve of 0.73 (P < 0.05). The cut-off value of CA125 was 17.8 U/mL with a sensitivity of 72.6%, a specificity of 78.0%, and the area under the ROC curve of 0.81 (P < 0.05). The cut-off value of CEA was 2.6 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 79.0%, a specificity of 48.0%, and the area under the ROC curve of 0.66 (P < 0.05). In addition to this, we found that using the combination of three tumor markers could improve the value in predicting resectability of cholangiocarcinoma. In summary, this study suggested that the preoperative serum CEA, CA125, and CA19-9 levels can help predict the resectability of cholangiocarcinoma.

Angiogenic miRNAs, the angiopoietin axis and related TIE2-expressing monocytes affect outcomes in cholangiocarcinoma

Background

Tumour angiogenesis is modulated on both an epigenetic and protein level and has potential implications for immune cell responses. However, the importance of related angiogenic biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is unknown. This study assessed human CCA samples for the expression of angiogenesis-associated microRNAs, angiopoietins (Angs) and monocytes expressing the Ang-receptor, TIE2, with regards to prognostic significance after liver resection.

Methods

Angiogenic miRNAs were analysed in frozen samples of intrahepatic CCA (iCC; n = 43) and hilar CCA (HC; n = 45). Ang-1 and Ang-2, as well as TIE2-expressing monocytes (TEMs), were detected in paraffin-embedded iCC sections (n = 88). MiRNA expression and the abundance of TEMs and Angs were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and survival.

Results

MiR-126 was downregulated in 76.7% of all CCA samples, with high relative expression associated with smaller tumours and reduced lymph node metastasis. High Ang-1 expression was associated with less lymphangiosis carcinomatosa and better histological grading (all p < 0.05). The absence of TEMs in iCC correlated with elevated CA19-9 levels. High relative miR-126 and low miR-128 levels were associated with improved survival in iCC and HC, respectively (all p < 0.05). High miR-126, low miR-128 and TEMs were independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free and overall survival (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These results suggest that angiogenic miRNAs, Angs and TEMs are of prognostic value in CCA. In addition to the possible functional links between angiogenic miRNA expression profiles, Angs and immune-cell responses by TEMs, these data have clinical implications as novel diagnostic tools.

Tumor necrosis and infiltrating macrophages predict survival after curative resection for cholangiocarcinoma

Background. Tumor necrosis as well as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor invasive front (TIF) have been suggested to have a prognostic value in selected solid tumors, inclusive hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, little is known regarding their influence on tumor progression and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC). Methods. We analyzed surgically resected tumor specimens of human iCC (n = 88) for distribution and localization of TAMs, as defined by expression of CD68, formation of necrosis and extent of peritumoral fibrosis. Abundance of TAMs, tumor necrosis and grade of fibrosis were assessed immunohistochemically and histologically and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics, tumor recurrence and patients' survival. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results. Patients with tumors characterized by low levels of TAMs in TIF or necrosis showed a significantly decreased 1-, 3- and 5-y recurrence-free survival and a significantly decreased overall survival, when compared with patients with tumors showing high levels of TAMs in TIF or no necrosis. Patients with high density of TAMs in TIF showed significantly lower incidence of tumor recurrence, as well (p < 0.05). Absence of tumor necrosis and TAMs in TIF were confirmed as independent prognostic variables in the multivariate survival analysis (all p < 0.05). Conclusions. High levels of TAMs in TIF or absence of histologic tumor necrosis are associated with a significantly improved recurrence-free and overall survival of patients with iCC. These results suggest TAMs and necrosis as valuable prognostic markers in routine histopathologic evaluation, and might indicate more individualized therapeutic strategies.