The Elevated Pre-Treatment C-Reactive Protein Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Neo-Adjuvant Radiochemotherapy

The Pre-Treatment Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Factor for Loco-Regional Control in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Chronic inflammatory reactions have been proven to represent relevant mechanisms for the development and progression of cancer in numerous tumor entities. There is evidence that the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is associated with the prognostic outcome. In rectal cancer, the prognostic role of this parameter has not yet been conclusively clarified. The aim of this study was to further clarify the prognostic significance of the pre-treatment PLR in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In the present study, 603 patients with LARC, who were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and subsequent surgical resection between 2004 and 2019, were retrospectively evaluated. The influence of clinico-pathological and laboratory factors on locoregional control (LC), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS) was investigated. In univariate analyses, high PLR was significantly associated with worse LC (p = 0.017) and OS (p = 0.008). In multivariate analyses, the PLR remained an independent parameter for the LC (HR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.000-1.009, p = 0.050). Pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (HR: 1.005 95% CI:1.002-1.008; p = 0.001) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (HR: 1.006, 95% CI:1.003-1.009; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for MFS; additionally, age (HR: 1.052, 95% CI:1.023-1.081; p < 0.001), LDH (HR: 1.003, 95% CI:1.000-1.007; p = 0.029) and CEA (HR: 1.006, 95% CI:1.003-1.009; p < 0.001) independently predicted OS. Pre-treatment PLR before nCRT is an independent prognostic factor for LC in LARC, which could be used to further individualize tumor treatment.

C-Reactive Protein as Predictive Biomarker for Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study

The standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery, but complete response rates are reduced. To find predictive biomarkers of response to therapy, we conducted a retrospective study evaluating blood biomarkers before nCRT. Hemoglobin (Hg), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelets, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19.9 levels, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were obtained from 171 rectal cancer patients before nCRT. Patients were classified as responders (Ryan 0-1; ycT0N0), 59.6% (n = 102), or nonresponders (Ryan 2-3), 40.3% (n = 69), in accordance with the Ryan classification. A logistic regression using prognostic pretreatment factors identified CRP ≤ 3.5 (OR = 0.05; 95%CI: 0.01-0.21) as a strong independent predictor of response to treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that CRP was an independent predictor of disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 5.48; 95%CI: 1.54-19.48) and overall survival (HR = 6.10; 95%CI 1.27-29.33) in patients treated with nCRT. Platelets were an independent predictor of DFS (HR = 3.068; 95%CI: 1.29-7.30) and OS (HR= 4.65; 95%CI: 1.66-13.05) and Hg was revealed to be an independent predictor of DFS (HR = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.15-0.90) in rectal cancer patients treated with nCRT. The lower expression of CRP is independently associated with an improved response to nCRT, DFS, and OS.

Preoperative assessment and optimisation for pelvic exenteration in locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer: A review

The pre-operative phase in planning a pelvic exenteration or extended resections is critical to optimising patient outcomes. This review summarises the key components of preoperative assessment and planning in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and locally recurrent rectal cancer (LLRC) being considered for potential curative resection. The preoperative period can be considered in 5 key phases: 1) Multidisciplinary meeting (MDT) review and recommendation for neoadjuvant therapy and surgery, 2) Anaesthetic preoperative assessment of fitness for surgery and quantification of risk, 3) Shared decision making with the patient and the process of informed consent, 4) Prehabilitation and physiological optimisation 5) Technical aspects of surgical planning. This review will focus on patients who have been recommended for surgery by the MDT and have completed neoadjuvant therapy. Other important considerations beyond the scope of this review are the various neoadjuvant strategies employed which in this patient group include Total Neo-adjuvant Therapy and reirradiation. Critical to improving perioperative outcomes is the dual aim of achieving a negative resection margin in a patient fit enough for extended surgery. Advanced, realistic communication is required pre-operatively and should be maintained throughout recovery. Optimising patient's physiological and psychological reserve with a preoperative prehabilitation programme is important, with physiotherapy, psychological and nutritional input. From a surgical perspective, image based technical preoperative planning is important to identify risk points and ensure correct surgical strategy. Careful attention to the entire patient journey through these 5 preoperative phases can optimise outcomes with the accumulation of marginal gains at multiple timepoints.

Development and validation of a risk prediction score for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background

We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for the overall survival (OS) of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Overall, 519 patients were retrospectively reviewed in this study. In addition, a random forest model was used to identify significant prognostic factors for OS among NPC patients. Then, calibration plot and concordance index (C-index) were utilized to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the nomogram model.

Results

We used a random forest model to select the three most important features, dNLR, HGB and EBV DNA, which were significantly associated with the OS of NPC patients. Furthermore, the C-index of our model for OS were 0.733 (95% CI 0.673 ~ 0.793) and 0.772 (95% CI 0.691 ~ 0.853) in the two cohorts, which was significantly higher than that of the TNM stage, treatment, and EBV DNA. Based on the model risk score, patients were divided into two groups, associated with low-risk and high-risk. Kaplan–Meier curves demonstrated that the two subgroups were significantly associated with OS in the primary cohort, as well as in the validation cohort. The nomogram for OS was established using the risk score, TNM stage and EBV DNA in the two cohorts. The nomogram achieved a higher C-index of 0.783 (95% CI 0.730 ~ 0.836) than that of the risk score model 0.733 (95% CI 0.673 ~ 0.793) in the primary cohort (P = 0.005).

Conclusions

The established risk score model and nomogram resulted in more accurate prognostic prediction for individual patient with NPC.