The prognostic roles of red blood cell-associated indicators in patients with resectable gastric cancers

Red blood cell distribution width has a prognostic value for gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy: A pooling-up analysis

Our study aims to investigate whether preoperative red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has a prognostic value for patients after gastric cancer (GC) surgery. We searched articles in 3 databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library on May 16th, 2022. The prognostic indicators included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RevMan 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, United Kingdom) and Stata V16.0 were used for statistical analysis. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions tool was used to assess risk of bias of the included studies. Ten articles involving 2740 patients were included. RDW was a prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio = 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-2.37, P < .01) and DFS (hazard ratio = 1.99, I2 = 26%, 95% CI = 1.53-2.58, P < .01) for GC patients. Meanwhile, there were some differences between the high RDW group and the low RDW group. We found more patients older than 60 years old (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.08-6.13, P = .03), larger tumor diameter (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.33-2.85, P < .01) and later T stage (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.07-3.42, P = .03) in the high RDW group than the low RDW group. No statistic difference was found in gender, N stage, tumor node metastasis stage, vascular invasion, differentiation, and adjuvant therapy between the 2 groups (P > .05). RDW was an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS of GC patients. High RDW level were strongly associated with poor survival.

The prognostic importance of red blood cell distribution width for gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

For cancer patients, red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a readily accessible and cost-effective preoperative prognostic predictor. This study aimed to determine whether RDW is a predictive factor for individuals undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

A literature search was performed to select relevant studies for inclusion in the subsequent meta-analysis. Relevant data were pooled to assess the association between RDW and GC results, including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS), as well as clinicopathological features.

Results

The meta-analysis and systemic review included data from 8 studies comprising 1,587 individuals diagnosed with GC. In this context, RDW refers to the coefficient of variation of RDW (RDW-CV). A high level of RDW-CV was significantly associated with older age [odds ratio (OR) =2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.72-2.94; P<0.00001], larger tumor diameter (OR =1.90; 95% CI: 1.42-2.56; P<0.0001), and vascular invasion (OR =2.22; 95% CI: 1.10-4.49; P=0.03). After hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were pooled, RDW-CV was found to be an independent prognostic factor of OS (HR =1.79; 95% CI: 1.21-2.66; I2=85%; P=0.004), DFS (HR =1.81; 95% CI: 1.37-2.39; I2=0%; P<0.0001), and CSS (HR =2.73; 95% CI: 1.36-5.49; I2=0%; P=0.005) in patients with GC.

Conclusions

The association between high levels of RDW-CV and poor survival in GC suggests that RDW-CV may be a viable prognostic indicator for patients with GC.

Integrative analysis of platelet-related genes for the prognosis of esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Every year, esophageal cancer is responsible for 509000 deaths and around 572000 new cases worldwide. Although esophageal cancer treatment options have advanced, patients still have a dismal 5-year survival rate.

AIM

To investigate the relationship between genes associated to platelets and the prognosis of esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We searched differentially expressed genes for changes between 151 tumor tissues and 653 normal, healthy tissues using the “limma” package. To develop a prediction model of platelet-related genes, a univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analysis were carried out. Based on a median risk score, patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk categories. A nomogram was created to predict the 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival (OS) of esophageal cancer patients using four platelet-related gene signatures, TNM stages, and pathological type. Additionally, the concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curve, and calibration curve were used to validate the nomogram.

RESULTS

The prognosis of esophageal cancer was associated to APOOL, EP300, PLA2G6, and VAMP7 according to univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis. Patients with esophageal cancer at high risk had substantially shorter OS than those with cancer at low risk, according to a Kaplan-Meier analysis (P < 0.05). TNM stage (hazard ratio: 2.187, 95% confidence interval: 1.242-3.852, P = 0.007) in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression and risk score were independently correlated with OS (hazard ratio: 2.451, 95% confidence interval: 1.599-3.756, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A survival risk score model and independent prognostic variables for esophageal cancer have been developed using APOOL, EP300, PLA2G6, and VAMP7. OS for esophageal cancer might be predicted using the nomogram based on TNM stage, pathological type, and risk score. The nomogram demonstrated strong predictive ability, as shown by the concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curve, and calibration curve.

Association between Oxidative Stress Parameters and Hematological Indices in Breast Cancer Patients

Background

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. This causes an increase in free radicals, resulting in oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breast cancer on oxidative stress and its relationship with hematological indices.

Methods

This case-control study included 43 women with breast cancer and 37 age-matched healthy controls. Oxidative stress and its correlation with hematological profiles over seven months were evaluated. Finally, the data were compared between the two groups using the t-test and Pearson's test, and the results were analyzed using the SPSS 24 software.

Results

The results revealed that patients with breast cancer had significantly increased hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) levels compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.05). In addition, oxidative stress parameters, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were significantly elevated. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly lower in patients with breast cancer than in the control group (p < 0.05). Statistical significance in hematological indices showed a positive or negative correlation with oxidative stress parameters.

Conclusion

Women with breast cancer showed a deranged complete blood count (CBC) pattern compared to healthy individuals.

Associations between differences in anemia-related blood cell parameters and short-term exposure to ambient particle pollutants in middle-aged and elderly residents in Beijing, China

Anemia is a highly prevalent disease among older populations, with multiple adverse health outcomes, and particles exposure is a potential risk factor for anemia. However, evidence on associations of exposure to particles with small size with anemia-related blood cell parameters levels in the elderly is limited, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Based on a panel study in Beijing, we found that in 135 elderly participants, mass concentrations of particle with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), black/elemental carbon (BC/EC, particle size range: 0-2.5 μm), and number concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs, particle size range: 5.6-93.1 nm) and accumulated mode particles (Acc, size range: 93.1-560 nm) were significantly associated with levels of red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The mean ± SD for PM_2.5, UFPs, Acc, BC, OC, and EC were 69.7 ± 61.1 μg/m³, 12.5 ± 4.3 × 10³/cm³, 1.6 ± 1.2 × 10³/cm³, 3.0 ± 2.0 μg/m³, 8.7 ± 6.7 μg/m³, and 2.1 ± 1.6 μg/m³, respectively. Cotinine (higher than 50 ng/mL) is used as an indicator of smoking exposure. The association between MCHC difference and per interquartile range (IQR) increase in average UFPs concentration 14 d before clinical visits was -0.7% (95% CI: -1.1% to -0.3%). Significant associations of UFPs and Acc exposure with MCHC and MCH levels remain robust after adjustment for other pollutants. Furthermore, 25.2% (95% CI: 7.4% to 64.8%) and 29.8% (95% CI: 5.3% to 214.4%) of the difference in MCHC associated with average UFPs and Acc concentrations 14 d before clinical visits were mediated by the level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α), a biomarker of systemic inflammation. Our findings for the first time provide the evidence that short-term UFPs and Acc exposure contributed to the damage of anemia-related blood cell in the elderly, and systemic inflammation was a potential internal mediator.