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The quantification of PSA mRNA copies in pathologically normal pelvic lymph nodes is a viable prognostic indicator.

Localized prostate cancer is a disease associated with significant biochemical recurrence with rising serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and marked progression. More specific prognostic methods are needed to identify the occult micrometastases that lead to biochemical recurrence. Ferrari et al. report on the technique of quantifying pathologically occult metastases in pelvic lymph nodes via PCR quantification. The group reports statistically significant biochemical failurefree recurrence in the comparison of 100 or greater normalized PSA mRNA copies (PSA-N) versus PSA-N of less than 100 at a median follow up of four years. PSA-N quantification appears to be an important method for predicting biochemical recurrence and characterizing the recurrence risk of localized prostate cancer patients with pathologically normal pelvic lymph nodes. This method warrants further investigation in prospective trials.

Humans↗

Abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine as a prognostic indicator in acute cholangitis.

Two hundred and twenty-five patients diagnosed as having non-malignant acute cholangitis were studied to evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of pre-drainage acute renal failure. Thirty-seven patients (16.4%) were found to have serum creatinine greater than, or equal to, 1.5 mg/dl before the drainage procedure. The risk factors for impaired renal function evaluated by multivariate analysis were advanced age, low albumin, low globulin, and clinical presentation of Charcot's triad or Reynold's pentad. The mortality rate in the abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine group was 21.6%, which was much higher than the mortality (3.7%) seen in the normal serum creatinine group (p less than 0.0001). The other risk factors of mortality evaluated by multivariate analysis were the bilirubin level, combined common bile duct stones and intrahepatic duct stones, and bile duct stricture. We conclude that abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine is not an uncommon finding in acute cholangitis. It is of prognostic significance, and should be considered as important as the clinical findings of Reynold's pentad.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical and pathologic prognostic indicators in colorectal cancer. A population-based study.

The institution of a colorectal Cancer Register in a health care district of Northern Italy gave the authors the opportunity to evaluate the prognostic relevance of several morphologic and clinical variables by univariate and multivariate analyses. Of the 134 patients registered in 1984, 132 were followed up until the end of 1989. Overall 5-year survival was 37%, but the figure increased to 43% when only colorectal cancer-related deaths were considered. Univariate analysis for clinical variables showed that TNM staging and age at diagnosis were significantly related to prognosis, whereas none of the other parameters were indicative of the clinical outcome. With a similar analysis, among the various morphologic variables, pattern of growth (infiltrating versus expanding) and extent of fibrosis (extensive versus little or absent) appeared to be indicators of prognosis. When the variables that were significant (stage, age, pattern of growth, and fibrosis) in the univariate analysis were entered into the Cox model of multivariate analysis, TNM staging was the only parameter that maintained an independent prognostic importance. The authors state that their results confirm the importance of stage in predicting survival for cancer of the large bowel and suggest that the possible prognostic value of clinical and morphologic variables should be investigated within each of the major TNM or Dukes' classes.

Age Factors↗

High expression of telomerase is an independent prognostic indicator of poor outcome in hepatoblastoma.

Telomerase, an enzyme related with cellular immortality, has been extensively studied in many kinds of malignant tumours for clinical diagnostic or prognostic utilities. Telomerase activity is mainly regulated by the expression of hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is a catalytic component of human telomerase. To evaluate whether the levels of hTERT mRNA provides a molecular marker of hepatoblastoma malignancy, we examined hTERT mRNA expression levels in the primary hepatoblastoma tissues by fluorescent RT-PCR using LightCycler technology and followed up the clinical outcomes in 63 patients listed in the Japanese Study Group of Pediatric Liver Tumor between 1991 and 2002. The hTERT mRNA expression was detected in 61 (96.8%) specimens and their expression levels ranged between 0.1/1000 and 745.1/1000 copies of PBGD gene that was used as an internal control. Among these cases, frozen 39 tumour samples and 14 adjacent noncancerous liver tissues were analysed for semiquantitative telomerase assay. In the 39 tumour samples, the levels of telomerase activity ranged between 0.11 and 2709 TPG and 12 (30.7%) had high telomerase activity (>100 TPG), whereas only nine of 14 noncancerous liver tissue samples showed telomerase activity which was less than 1.0 TPG. The levels of telomerase activity were significantly correlated with the levels of hTERT mRNA expression (P<0.001). The frequency of high hTERT mRNA expression and/or high telomerase activity did not significantly associate with the clinicopathological factors except for stage of disease. The prognosis of the patients with high hTERT mRNA expression was significantly worse than that of others (P<0.01), as was the patients with high telomerase activity (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that high levels of hTERT mRNA expression as well as telomerase activity are independent prognosis-predicting factors in patients with hepatoblastoma.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity and circulating immune complexes as prognostic indicators in cancer patients.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were estimated in 55 cancer patients and 25 control volunteers to evaluate their prognostic significance. Cancer patients comprised head and neck cancer (11), breast cancer (13), gastrointestinal cancer (10), genitourinary cancer (11), and lymphomas and sarcomas (10). CMI was tested in vitro by early rosette-forming cells (ARFC) and total rosette-forming cell (TRFC) counts. ARFC count in control group was 758.1 +/- 78.09 cells/cumm. In advancing clinical stages of cancer (I-IV), ARFC counts were decreased (i.e., 601.12 +/- 74.96 [p < 0.01]; 494.8 +/- 71.83 [p < 0.001]; 432.44 +/- 36.05 [p < 0.001], and 438.55 +/- 69.99 [p < 0.001] cells/cumm, respectively). TRFC count in control group was 1029 +/- 88.39 cells/cumm. In cancer stages I through IV, these counts decreased significantly (i.e., 699.63 +/- 66.24; 597.55 +/- 82.9; 505.11 +/- 52.56; and 501.55 +/- 69.99 cells/cumm, respectively [p < 0.001]. Dinitrochlorobenzene cutaneous reactivity in vivo was 100% positive in control group, 62.5% positive in cancer stage I, 5% positive in stage II, and negative in stages III and IV. CIC of intermediate size were estimated by polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG pptn) technique, which detects CIC in the ratio of 2:1 (Ag2Ab). Mean PEG index in control group was 39.5 +/- 4.65; sequential increase in CIC was observed in advancing clinical stages of cancer (I-IV)(i.e., 49 +/- 7.03 [p < 0.01]; 75.38 +/- 44.01 [p < 0.001]; 93.38 +/- 44.57 [p < 0.001]; and 216.00 +/- 147.05 [p < 0.001], respectively). Latex agglutination inhibition (LAI) titer was done to detect CIC as small as 8s, which constitute the opposite polar end of CIC spectrum. LAI titers in control group were nil. However, LAI titers in cancer stages I through IV were 1 +/- 2.64; 8.6 +/- 5.6 (p < 0.001); 12.00 +/- 8.11 (p < 0.001); and 25.77 +/- 9.06 (p < 0.001), respectively. Decrease in CMI and subsequent increase in CIC indicate unfavorable prognosis in cancer patients, and also precede clinical manifestation of increased tumor mass in vivo.

Adult↗

Prognostic indicators of survival in ALS. ALS CNTF Treatment Study Group.

We analyzed data from the 245-patient placebo group of the ALS CNTF Treatment Study Group study, a large, prospective, multicenter study of recombinant human ciliary neurotrophic factor to determine prognostic factors for length of survival in ALS. Variables examined included baseline demographic characteristics, indices of disease severity, pulmonary function, and clinical laboratory tests. Shorter survival was associated with greater age, lower percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%), and lower serum chloride at study entry. A shorter interval from symptom onset to diagnosis of ALS and greater weight loss in the 2 months before study entry also predicted shortened survival times. The rate of muscle strength loss before study entry did not predict risk of mortality. Serum chloride, reflecting the degree of respiratory acidosis, was identified for the first time as being correlated with prognosis in ALS. The relationship between a patient's FVC% and the probability of survival is described.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Prognostic indicators in medical rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury: a commentary and review.

The National Information System (NIS) project is developing consensus opinion regarding a proposed structural framework for the prognostic data to be collected as part of this proposed multicenter research effort on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This article provide a brief history of the process, examines challenges facing rehabilitation research in this particular area, discusses reasons for identifying prognostic data within the research context of the NIS project, and describes methodologies for use of mathematical models in predicting outcome from TBI. The literature regarding prognostic parameters in severe TBI is briefly reviewed, utilizing three broad parameter categorizations: preinjury, injury, and postinjury. The implications of this research and directions for further study within the NIS project are discussed.

Brain Injuries↗

Combined use of nuclear morphometry and DNA ploidy as prognostic indicators in nonresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

The introduction of combined modality treatment has only marginally affected the prognosis in nonresectable pancreatic carcinoma. Evaluation of easily accessible prognostic variables could be of clinical importance when selecting patients for proper therapy. DNA ploidy and morphometric variables were chosen as prognostic markers and assessed on cytologic material obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) from 128 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. The nuclear DNA content was measured by image cytometry. Patients were categorized as short-term (< or = 6 mo) and long-term survivors (> 6 mo). Ninety-eight of 116 nonresectable patients were possible to evaluate. There were significant differences between short- and long-term survivors with regard to DNA ploidy (p < 0.01) and the morphonuclear variable anisokaryosis (p < 0.001). In patients with either DNA aneuploid tumors or anisokaryosis > or = 0.6, the survival time was 6 mo or less in 85 and 93%, respectively. When both these criteria were fulfilled, only 5% survived for more than 6 mo. Thus, DNA ploidy and morphometry, separately or in combination, may provide prognostic information in nonresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prognostic indications for Hürthle cell cancer.

Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) has been reported to have variable clinical behavior. The objective of this study was to determine the important prognostic factors in patients with HCC. It was a retrospective investigation of 33 patients with HCC treated in our institution from 1976 to 2002. The average age of our 33 patients with HCC was 55.2 years (range 20-82 years; 23 women, 10 men). Fifteen patients (45.5%) presented with a T2 tumor, 7 (21.2%) with a T3 tumor, and 8 (24.2%) with a T4 tumor; the tumor stage was unknown in three patients. Coexisting papillary carcinoma occurred in six patients (18%), 9% of whom presented with metastatic disease. Twelve patients (36.4%) had metastases, four of whom (12.2%) had persistent HCC, and 8 (24.2%) developed recurrent HCC (range 1-9 years). Eight of these twelve patients (66.7%) died from the HCC. The average follow-up time was 5.5 years (range 1-16 years). Altogether, 3 of 23 women and 5 of 10 men died from their HCC ( p < 0.05). Of the 22 patients with T2-T3 tumors, 5 (22.7%) developed metastases and 1 patient died; 5 of 8 patients (62.5%) with T4 tumors developed metastases and died ( p < 0.01). Patients who were treated by less than total thyroidectomy had a worse prognosis by univariate analysis ( p < 0.01) but not by multivariate analysis. Survival time for patients with persistent disease was shorter than for those with recurrent disease ( p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis, however, revealed no difference for extent of operation or those with persistent and recurrent disease. The cause-specific survivals were 74% and 49% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Disease-free survivals were 65.0% and 40.5% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Our findings show that gender and stage of disease influence the prognosis of patients with HCC.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗

Relative lymphocyte count: a prognostic indicator of mortality in elderly patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: A reduction in the relative lymphocyte count is a marker of the stress response; however, its prognostic value remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the relative lymphocyte count for survival in elderly patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: One thousand two hundred seventy-four consecutive patients above the age of 65 years hospitalized with heart disease were enrolled in the CHF Italian Study and followed up for 3 years. Of these, 413 patients were excluded because of factors that could affect the lymphocyte count. Of the remaining 861 patients, 423 (49%) met the criteria for the diagnosis of CHF (mean age 76 +/- 7 years, 51% men), of whom 162 patients (38%) had a relative lymphocyte count < or = 20%. The 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with CHF and a relative lymphocyte count < or = 20% was 64% compared with 40% in patients with a relative lymphocyte count > 20% (P < .0001). The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for death in patients with CHF and low relative lymphocyte count was 1.76 (95% confidence interval 1.34-2.32, P = .0001). After adjustment for baseline differences and variables associated with or known to affect lymphocyte count, the hazard ratio remained significantly different from 1.0 (hazard ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.21-2.48, P = .0026). CONCLUSION: A low relative lymphocyte count is an independent marker of poor prognosis in elderly patients with CHF. The relative lymphocyte count is a simple, accurate, widely available, and inexpensive marker that can help to identify elderly patients with CHF who are at increased risk for mortality. The pathophysiologic mechanism of this observation remains to be determined.

Aged↗

FDG-PET as a prognostic indicator in radiochemotherapy of glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective cohort study in a homogeneous patient group with proven glioblastoma who received uniform therapy to determine the prognostic value and clinical correlates of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET at different stages of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma, aged 52 +/- 9 years and with Karnofsky performance score (KPS) of at least 50, were treated with surgical resection, chemotherapy (nimustine), and radiotherapy. They were followed prospectively for 2 years. Clinical data (e.g., tumor progression, performance status, and survival) were recorded and glucose metabolism was measured with PET and FDG before and during radiochemotherapy. RESULTS: Median survival of all patients was 13 months and four patients were alive 24 months after surgery. All tumors were hypermetabolic compared with normal white matter. A metabolic index was calculated as the ratio of maximum residual tumor metabolism to contralateral normal brain metabolism. It was of prognostic value for patient survival and tumor recurrence already in the first postoperative and all following PET studies and was correlated with the KPS. Reduction of contralateral brain metabolism was more closely related to prognosis than the tumor metabolism proper. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the prognostic relevance of metabolically active residual tumor tissue after surgical resection.

Adolescent↗

Is tumor size a prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies using multivariate analysis of clinical and pathological features in gastric cancer have identified a number of high-risk, independent prognostic factors. In these clinical features, tumor size can be measured easily before or during the operation without the requirement of any special equipment, but its prognostic value in patients with gastric cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to review the experience at our institution of gastric adenocarcinoma to determine the influence of tumor size on outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1985 and December 1995, 697 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent resection of the stomach at the Department of Surgery, Sendai National Hospital, Japan. Data on age, gender, tumor location, structure and size, evidence of local invasion, and type of operation performed for each patient were obtained. The sizes of tumors were derived from measurements made in fresh resected specimens. The patients were divided into three groups: 102 patients with tumors of less than 2 cm in diameter, 392 patients with tumors of 2-7 cm in diameter, and 203 patients with tumors of more than 7 cm in diameter. RESULTS: In these three groups, there were statistical differences in tumor location, macroscopic type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, histological type, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and cancer-stromal relationship. Patients with larger tumors had more invasion into the gastric wall in terms of depth of invasion and more frequent lymph node metastasis than did patients with smaller tumors. Histologically, diffuse, scirrhous-type was more common in the larger tumor group. The frequency of lymphatic and vascular permeation in the larger tumor group was higher than that in the other groups. The 5-year survival rates according to tumor size were 94.3% in cases of tumors of less than 2 cm, 75.1% in cases of tumors of 2-7 cm, and 26.3% in cases of tumors of more than 7 cm. Multivariate analysis revealed that the prognosis of gastric cancer patients was affected most by depth of invasion, followed by lymph node metastasis and tumor location. Tumor size is not an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, according to the results of univariate analysis, tumor size is clinically a predictor of survival of patients with gastric cancer. In multivariate analysis, however, it is not an independent factor, and the presence of lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion and tumor location are more important than tumor size.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Liver disease in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: prognostic indicators.

We reviewed the clinical presentation, subsequent course, and outcome of 98 patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency seen at our institution during the past 20 years to obtain answers to the following questions: (1) What prognostic factors aid in determining the course of liver disease in affected patients? (2) When is the appropriate time for referral to a liver transplant center? (3) Does breast-feeding prevent chronic liver disease? (4) What is the incidence of severe liver disease in family members? Our analysis revealed that the initial values of alanine aminotransferase, prothrombin time, and trypsin inhibitory capacity may have prognostic value. During clinical follow-up the recurrence or persistence of hyperbilirubinemia along with deteriorating results of coagulation studies indicated the need for liver transplantation because of imminent poor outcome. Girls had a worse prognosis than boys. Initial breast-feeding versus feeding of commercial formulas did not influence overall overcome. The incidence of significant liver disease among "at risk" siblings was 21% (3/14); if one assumes mendelian inheritance from heterozygous parents, the overall risk for siblings in our families was 5%.

Adolescent↗

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy, percent S-phase fraction, and total proliferative fraction as prognostic indicators of local control and survival following radiation therapy for prostate carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Treatment recommendations for localized prostate cancer may be improved by the identification of tumor factors prognostic for local control and survival. In this retrospective study, flow cytometric deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ploidy analysis and cell cycle analysis were performed on paraffin-embedded biopsy material to determine if additional prognostic factors could be identified in patients treated with radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seventy patients with T1-4NxM0 tumors were identified in whom the primary treatment had been radical radiation therapy with no prior or concurrent endocrine therapy and in whom sufficient prostatic tissue was available for flow cytometric analysis. There were 40 diploid, 26 aneuploid, and 4 multiploid cases. Aneuploid and multiploid cases were combined for analysis. Cell cycle data were obtained on all diploid and 10 aneuploid cases. RESULTS: The histologic differentiation of the tumor (well or moderate vs. poor) was an independent predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival (p = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Local control was worse in the poorly differentiated patients, although this was not statistically significant in a multivariate analysis (p = 0.08). Neither T-stage, deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy (diploid vs. nondiploid), percent S-phase fraction, nor total proliferative fraction (S-phase fraction + G2M) significantly predicted for any of these endpoints. Within the diploid and well or moderately differentiated subgroup (n = 25), S-phase (< 4.2 vs. > or = 4.2) was a significant predictor of local control (100% vs. 51%, p = 0.03). A comparable distinction could be made using total proliferative fraction (< 10% vs. > or = 10%) with local control rates of 100% vs. 56% (p = 0.05). Among the poorly differentiated tumors, no similarly favorable subgroup was identified. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective and multivariate analysis identifies both histology and percent S-phase or total proliferative fraction as predictors of local control following irradiation, and confirms that histology, but not DNA ploidy, is significant for overall survival. If these previously unreported findings are confirmed by prospective studies, S-phase should be added to histology as a parameter in the evaluation of clinical trials.

Cell Division↗

Evaluation of tumor angiogenesis measured with microvessel density (MVD) as a prognostic indicator in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: results of RTOG 9505.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate tumor angiogenesis as measured by microvessel density (MVD) as an independent prognostic factor in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy alone. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients included those with NPC treated with radiotherapy. Paraffin blocks of the primary tumor had a hematoxylin and eosin-stained section prepared at the block face. One representative section for tumor was stained for factor VIII-related antigen using a standard immunoperoxidase staining technique. MVD was determined by light microscopy in areas of invasive tumor containing the highest numbers of capillaries and microvessels per area. Individual microvessel counts were made on a 200x field within the area of most intense tumor neovascularization. Results were expressed as the highest number of microvessels identified within any single 200x field. Using a breakpoint of MVD <60 vs. > or =60, the distributions between the two MVD groups were compared by the method of Gray. Overall survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was employed to examine the relationship between MVD and disease outcomes while adjusting for other concomitant variables. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six were eligible, of whom 123 had values determined for MVD. The MVD values ranged from 9 to 243 with a median of 70. In the multivariate analysis of overall survival, distant metastases, and local-regional failure, MVD did not significantly improve the model containing T stage, N stage, age, radiation dose, and World Health Organization class. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant differences in overall survival, time to distant metastasis, or time to local-regional failure using a breakpoint of MVD <60 vs. MVD > or =60. The study was perhaps limited by the small size of the NPC samples.

Adolescent↗

Visual results, prognostic indicators, and posterior segment findings following surgery for cataract/lens subluxation-dislocation secondary to ocular contusion injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To determine visual outcomes, incidence of posterior segment abnormalities, and prognostic factors in eyes undergoing lens removal for cataract or lens subluxation-dislocation secondary to ocular contusion injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Forty eyes in forty consecutive patients undergoing lens extraction for ocular contusion-related cataract or lens subluxation, all with a minimum of 6 months' follow-up. INTERVENTION: Lens extraction in the traumatized eye. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Final best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 55% of eyes, and ambulatory vision (>5/200) was achieved in 88%. Preoperative factors associated with poorer visual outcome (<20/40) were the presence of an afferent pupillary defect or an iridodialysis (P < 0.05). Seventy percent of eyes were determined to have significant posterior segment injuries. The cause of final visual acuity less than 20/40 included macular scarring (23%), retinal detachment (15%), and optic atrophy (5%). CONCLUSION: Cataract or lens subluxation secondary to ocular contusion injuries is often associated with severe posterior segment sequelae and poor visual outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level as a prognostic indicator in gastric cancer.

T lymphocytes, activated by interleukin 2 during an anti-tumour response, release soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL-2R) into the bloodstream. We analysed the prognostic value of the serum sIL-2R level in gastric cancer. Serum concentration of sIL-2R in 96 gastric cancer patients and 100 healthy control subjects' was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All survivors were followed for more than 50 months. Serum sIL-2R level was considered with respect to prognosis, clinicopathological factors, other tumour markers and peripheral blood cell count. Stage III and IV patients had significantly higher sIL-2R levels than lower stage patients and control subjects. Stage III and IV gastric cancer patients were divided into 'high' and 'low' slL-2R groups based upon the control subjects' serum sIL-2R mean value plus one standard deviation. The high group had a significantly worse prognosis than the low group, although clinicopathological features and treatments were similar. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the serum sIL-2R level is an independent indicator. The sIL-2R level did not correlate with carbohydrate antigen 19-9, however it did correlate with carcinoembryonic antigen (r = 0.22) and with numbers of peripheral blood monocytes (r = 0.54). In conclusion, serum sIL-2R may predict the outcome of gastric cancer patients with stage III or IV disease.

Adult↗

Cancer-associated serum antigen level: a novel prognostic indicator for survival in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

The aim was to examine the value of the pretherapeutic serum cancer-associated serum antigen (CASA) level as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Serum levels of CASA and cancer antigen (CA)125 were prospectively determined in 70 consecutive patients with recurrent ovarian cancer before the start of second-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses of survival were performed. The median level of serum CASA was 6.5 U/mL (range: 0.2-1437 U/mL). Univariate analysis showed that patients with a CASA level >10.0 U/mL had significantly shorter survival than patients with CASA level < or =10.0 U/mL (P= 0.002). Using different CASA cutoff levels (6.0, 6.5, and 10.0 U/mL), multivariate Cox analyses identified CASA as an independent prognostic factor for survival at every cutoff level. The strongest prognostic function for CASA was found at a cutoff level of 10.0 U/mL (>10 vs < or =10 U/mL; hazard ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.7; P < 0.001). The pretreatment CA125 level was not found to be significantly associated with survival by any of the cutoffs (35, 65, 132, and 339 U/mL). A pretreatment elevated level of the tumor marker CASA is an adverse prognostic factor for survival in patients with ovarian cancer relapse.

Adult↗