Multi-institutional development and validation of a nomogram to predict recurrence after curative resection of gastric neuroendocrine/mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma

GATIS score: An innovative prognostic score for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

In this article, we discussed the article by Zeng et al, published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The publication represents a significant advancement in the prognostic evaluation of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms. The GATIS score is a single nomogram model that incorporates five key prognostic factors: Tumor grade; T stage; tumor size; age; and the prognostic nutritional index. This innovation optimizes the prognostic process, delivering more accurate predictions of overall survival and progression-free survival compared to traditional TNM staging and World Health Organization classification systems. The findings of the study were based on a retrospective analysis spanning 12 years and involving 1408 patients from 17 reference centers in China. In this editorial, we specifically examined the strengths and limitations of the study, the clinical implications of the GATIS score, and the questions arising from its conclusions.

Evaluation of the GATIS score for predicting prognosis in rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

The GATIS score, developed by Zeng et al, represents a significant advancement in predicting the prognosis of patients with rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (R-NENs). This study, which included 1408 patients from 17 major medical centres in China over 12 years, introduces a novel prognostic model based on the tumour grade, T stage, tumour size, age, and the prognostic nutritional index. Compared with traditional methods such as the World Health Organization classification and TNM staging systems, the GATIS score has superior predictive power for overall survival and progression-free survival. With a C-index of 0.915 in the training set and 0.812 in the external validation set, the GATIS score's robustness and reliability are evident. The study's use of a large, multi-centre cohort and rigorous validation processes underscore its significance. The GATIS score offers clinicians a powerful tool to accurately predict patient outcomes, guide treatment decisions, and improve follow-up strategies. This development represents a crucial step forwards in the management of R-NENs, addressing the complexity and variability of these tumours and setting a new benchmark for future research and clinical practice.

GATIS score for predicting the prognosis of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: A Chinese multicenter study of 12-year experience

BACKGROUND

There is currently a shortage of accurate, efficient, and precise predictive instruments for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).

AIM

To develop a predictive model for individuals with rectal NENs (R-NENs) using data from a large cohort.

METHODS

Data from patients with primary R-NENs were retrospectively collected from 17 large-scale referral medical centers in China. Random forest and Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the risk factors for overall survival and progression-free survival, and two nomograms were constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 1408 patients with R-NENs were included. Tumor grade, T stage, tumor size, age, and a prognostic nutritional index were important risk factors for prognosis. The GATIS score was calculated based on these five indicators. For overall survival prediction, the respective C-indexes in the training set were 0.915 (95% confidence interval: 0.866-0.964) for overall survival prediction and 0.908 (95% confidence interval: 0.872-0.944) for progression-free survival prediction. According to decision curve analysis, net benefit of the GATIS score was higher than that of a single factor. The time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the predictive power of the GATIS score was higher than that of the TNM stage and pathological grade at all time periods.

CONCLUSION

The GATIS score had a good predictive effect on the prognosis of patients with R-NENs, with efficacy superior to that of the World Health Organization grade and TNM stage.

Liver metastasis from hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach: a case report and literature review

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) represents a rare malignant neoplasm sharing morphological and immunophenotypic similarities with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pathological morphology serves as the cornerstone for diagnosis, often accompanied by elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, nonspecific clinical symptoms, and imaging features reminiscent of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). Liver metastases from HAS can mimic the enhancement patterns of HCC, posing challenges in differentiation from high-risk HCC cases. Conversely, HAS typically exhibits poorer prognostic outcomes compared to HCC and GA. This report presents a case of HAS with liver metastasis alongside a comprehensive literature review covering its pathology, molecular mechanisms, clinical presentations, and treatment modalities. Special focus is given to imaging characteristics and the utilization of radiomics for early-stage detection. The integration of imaging findings with laboratory results aids in HAS diagnosis, while radiomics provides novel insights for precise discrimination. In conclusion, the identification of distinct imaging markers distinguishing HAS from HCC and GA shows promise in facilitating optimal treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms in gastroenteropancreatic tract

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms that can settle in the gastroenteropancreatic tract. They are composed of a neuroendocrine (NE) and a non-NE component in at least 30% of each tumour. The non-NE component can include different histological combinations of glandular, squamous, mucinous and sarcomatoid phenotypes, and one or both of the components can be low-or high grade malignant. Recent changes in the nomenclature of these neoplasms might lead to great deal of confusion, and the lack of specific clinical trials is the main reason why their management is difficult. The review aims to clarify the definition of MiNEN and analyze available evidence about their diagnosis and treatment options according to their location and extension through careful analysis of the available data. It would be important to reach a general consensus on their diagnosis in order to construct a classification that remains stable over time and facilitates the design of clinical trials that, due to their low incidence, will require long recruitment periods.

Gastric mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms

The uncommon tumour known as gastric mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (G-MiNENs) is made up of parts of neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The biological and clinical features are different from those of gastric adenocarcinoma. Their pathophysiology, diagnostic standards, and clinical behaviour have all been the subject of lengthy debates, and their nomenclature has undergone multiple changes. Its emergence has created new challenges in the classification and diagnosis of gastric tumours. This review will update information on the topic, covering molecular aspects, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and prognostic factor discovery. It will also provide a historical context that will aid in understanding the evolution of the idea and nomenclature of mixed gastric tumours. Additionally, it will provide the reader a thorough understanding of this difficult topic of cancer that is applicable to real-world situations.

Infiltrating characteristics and prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures in resected gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm patients

Objectives

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are lymphocyte aggregates that play an anti-tumor role in most solid tumors. However, the functions of TLS in gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (GNENs) remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and prognostic values of TLS in resected GNEN patients.

Methods

Haematoxylin-eosin, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiple fluorescent IHC staining were used to assess TLS to investigate the correlation between TLSs and clinicopathological characteristics and its prognostic value.

Results

Tertiary lymphoid structures were identified in 84.3% of patients with GNEN. They were located in the stromal area or outside the tumor tissue and mainly composed of B and T cells. A high density of TLSs promoted an anti-tumor immune response in GNEN. CD15+ TANs and FOXP3+ Tregs in TLSs inhibited the formation of TLSs. High TLS density was significantly associated with prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of GNENs. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that TLS density, tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and World Health Organisation (WHO) classification were independent prognostic factors for OS, whereas TLS density, tumor size and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Finally, OS and RFS nomograms were developed and validated, which were superior to the WHO classification and the TNM stage.

Conclusion

Tertiary lymphoid structures were mainly located in the stromal area or outside the tumor area, and high TLS density was significantly associated with the good prognosis of patients with GNEN. Incorporating TLS density into a nomogram may improve survival prediction in patients with resected GNEN.

Prognostic value of computed tomography radiomics features in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical prognostic significance of radiomics signature (R-signature) in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm (GNEN).

Methods and Materials

A retrospective study of 182 patients with GNEN who underwent dual-phase enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning was conducted. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to screen the features and establish the arterial, venous and the arteriovenous phase combined R-signature, respectively. The association between the optimal R-signature with the best prognostic performance and overall survival (OS) was assessed in the training cohort and verified in the validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the significant factors of clinicopathological characteristics for OS. Furthermore, the performance of a combined radiomics-clinical nomogram integrating the R-signature and independent clinicopathological risk factors was evaluated.

Results

The arteriovenous phase combined R-signature had the best performance in predicting OS, and its C-index value was better than the independent arterial and venous phase R-signature (0.803 vs 0.784 and 0.803 vs 0.756, P<0.001, respectively). The optimal R-signature was significantly associated with OS in the training cohort and validation cohort. GNEN patients could be successfully divided into high and low prognostic risk groups with radiomics score median. The combined radiomics-clinical nomogram combining this R-signature and independent clinicopathological risk factors (sex, age, treatment methods, T stage, N stage, M stage, tumor boundary, Ki67, CD56) exhibited significant prognostic superiority over clinical nomogram, R-signature alone, and traditional TNM staging system (C-index, 0.882 vs 0.861, 882 vs 0.803, and 0.882 vs 0.870 respectively, P<0.001). All calibration curves showed remarkable consistency between predicted and actual survival, and decision curve analysis verified the usefulness of the combined radiomics-clinical nomogram for clinical practice.

Conclusions

The R-signature could be used to stratify patients with GNEN into high and low risk groups. Furthermore, the combined radiomics-clinical nomogram provided better predictive accuracy than other predictive models and might aid clinicians with therapeutic decision-making and patient counseling.

Effect of multimodal chemotherapy on survival of gastric cancer with liver metastasis – a population based analysis

Objectives

Limited efforts have been made to evaluate the effect of multimodal chemotherapy on the survival of gastric cancer patients with liver metastases (LMGC). This study aimed to identify prognostic factors in LMGC patients and the superiority of multimodal chemotherapy with respect to overall survival (OS) in these patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1298 patients with M1 stage disease between January 2012 and December 2020. The effects of clinicopathological variables and preoperative chemotherapy (PECT), postoperative chemotherapy (POCT), and palliative chemotherapy on survival in patients with liver metastases (LM group) and non-liver metastases (non-LM group) were compared.

Results

Of the 1298 patients analysed, 546 (42.06%) were in the LM group and 752 (57.94%) were in the non-LM group. The median (interquartile range) age was 60 (51–66) years. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in the LM group were 29.3%, 13.9%, and 9.2%, respectively, and those in the non-LM group were. 38.2%, 17.4%, and 10.0%, respectively (P &lt; 0.05, &gt; 0.05, and &gt; 0.05, respectively.) The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that palliative chemotherapy was a significant independent prognostic factor in both the LM and non-LM groups. Age ≥55 years, N stage, and Lauren classification were also independent predictors of OS in the LM group (P &lt; 0.05). Palliative chemotherapy and POCT were associated with improved OS compared with PECT in the LM group (26.3% vs. 36.4% vs. 25.0%, P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion

LMGC patients had a worse prognosis than non- LMGC. Number of metastatic sites more than 1, liver and other metastatic sites, no CT treatment and HER2-negative had a poor prognosis. LMGC patient may benefit more from palliative chemotherapy and POCT than from PECT. Further well-designed, prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Value of the Preoperative D-Dimer to Albumin Ratio for Survival and Recurrence Patterns in Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

D-dimer (DDI) and albumin are prognostic markers for numerous cancers; however, the predictive value of the preoperative DDI-to-albumin ratio (DAR) on the survival and recurrence patterns of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic value of the DAR in GC.

METHODS

Our study included 1766 patients with GC, divided into training and testing cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. Patients were classified into either a high-DAR group (> 0.0145) or low-DAR group (≤ 0.0145) according to the cut-off value of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The relationship between the DAR and recurrence pattern was analyzed in stage II/III patients.

RESULTS

Eight preoperative hematological factors were included and 17 composite inflammatory markers were constructed. ROC and random forest analyses indicated that among 17 markers, DAR was the best predictor for overall survival (OS) in GC (p < 0.01). High DAR was significantly associated with poor OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.89, p < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; HR 1.85, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed no differences in OS and RFS between the high- and low-DAR groups in stage I or pT1/2 or pN0/1 patients; however, in stage II/III or pT3/4 or pN2/3 patients, the high-DAR group had shorter OS and RFS rates than the low-DAR group (p < 0.001). Similar results were found in the testing cohort. According to the multivariate analysis based on the training cohort, five indices, including DAR, cT stage, cN stage, age and body mass index (BMI), were incorporated to establish a nomogram model to predict the long-term prognosis of GC. The model showed comparable forecast performance in predicting OS (C-index: 0.773 vs. 0.786) and RFS (C-index: 0.788 vs. 0.795) compared with pTNM. Recurrence pattern analysis in stage II/III patients showed that the high-DAR group had a higher incidence of peritoneal implantation and early recurrence (ER) than the low-DAR group, and the post-recurrence survival in the high-DAR group was significantly shorter than that in the low-DAR group (p = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative DAR is a new biomarker for the long-term survival prediction of GC. In advanced GC, a preoperative DAR > 0.0145 aids the timely detection of ER and peritoneal recurrence after surgery, thus guiding individual follow-up strategies.

CT and MR imaging features of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm of the pancreas compared with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of pancreatic mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) and compare them with those of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and neuroendocrine tumor (NET).

METHODS

Twelve patients with pancreatic MiNEN, 24 patients with PDAC, and 24 patients with NET, who underwent both contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, were included. Clinical data and the key imaging features were retrospectively evaluated by two independent readers and compared between MiNEN and PDAC or NET. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain predictors for pancreatic MiNEN.

RESULTS

Patients with pancreatic MiNEN more frequently presented with large size and heterogeneous and cystic components compared with PDAC (p < 0.031) and ill-defined irregular margins, progressive enhancement, and adjacent organ involvement compared with NET (p < 0.036). However, vascular invasion was less commonly seen in MiNEN than PDAC (p = 0.010). Moderate enhancement was observed more frequently in MiNEN than in PDAC or NET (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic analyses demonstrated that moderate enhancement and ill-defined irregular margin were the most valuable features for the prediction of pancreatic MiNEN (p ≤ 0.044). The combination of the two features resulted in a specificity of 93.8%, sensitivity of 83.3%, and accuracy of 91.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

We have mainly described the radiological findings of pancreatic MiNEN with ill-defined irregular margin and moderate enhancement compared with PDAC and NET. The combination of imaging features could improve diagnostic efficiency and help in the selection of the correct treatment method.

Early gastric mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms with endoscopic findings of neuroendocrine cell carcinoma components exposed on the mucosal surface: a case report

Background

Gastric mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare malignant tumors. The lack of specific findings makes it difficult to diagnose endoscopically. We report the case of early gastric mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Case presentation

An 81-year-old Japanese female underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for screening and was treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer. Histopathologically, the lesion was diagnosed as mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (tubular adenocarcinoma 2 60%, endocrine cell carcinoma 40%), pT1b(submucosa (SM) 900 μm), pUL(−), Ly(+), v(−), pHM0, pVM0. After additional surgical resection without adjuvant chemotherapy, she has had no recurrences or metastases for 3 years.

Conclusions

Comparing narrow-band imaging magnified endoscopic findings with pathological findings, the depressed area with a lack of surface structure was consistent with the neuroendocrine cell carcinoma component, while narrow-band imaging magnification findings showed non-network vessels. In this case, we examined endoscopic findings of early stage mixed neuroendocrine—non-neuroendocrine neoplasms in detail and compared it with the pathological findings. We believe that these endoscopic findings contribute to the diagnosis of mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms and can lead to its early detection.

Nomogram for distant metastasis-free survival in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a nomogram to predict distant metastasis-free survival of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODS

We collected the total clinical data of 820 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, of whom 482 formed the training cohort from one hospital and 328 made up the validation cohort from another hospital. By analyzing the prognosis of all patients after intensity-modulated radiotherapy by univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, a nomogram related to DMFS was created in the training cohort. The discriminatory and calibration power of the nomogram was successively assessed in the training and validation cohorts by the C‑index and calibration curve. The predictive ability for 3‑year DMFS was compared between the nomogram and TNM stage using ROC curves. Patients were divided into different risk groups based on scores calculated from the nomogram.

RESULTS

Age, lymph node gross tumor volume (GTVnd), and gross tumor volume of the nasopharynx (GTVnx) were the factors included in the nomogram. The C‑index of the nomogram was 0.721 in the training cohort and 0.750 in the validation cohort. The calibration curves were satisfactory. Patients in the high-risk group were more likely to develop metastases.

CONCLUSION

A nomogram incorporating age, GTVnd, and GTVnx showed good performance for predicting DMFS in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC.

Revisiting the 8th AJCC system for gastric cancer: A review on validations, nomograms, lymph nodes impact, and proposed modifications

Gastric cancer is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, behind breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers. In gastric cancer, multimodality treatment shows prospective benefits and also improves survival. Surgery, however, is the mainstay of curative treatment. The staging of gastric cancer patients is critical for harmonization of care. Accurate stages assure that informed clinical decisions are timely made. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system is the most widely applied system in to determine the disease's prognosis and survival prediction. The recently adopted 8th AJCC TNM staging system has been revised to enhance its survival predictive power. Subsequent studies have established the validity of the current edition, demonstrating improved stage stratification, discriminatory power, and survival prediction. However, other studies have cast doubt on the superiority of the new edition. Innovations aimed at further improving its prognosis have resulted in developing of novel models. Advances in our understanding of the tumor microenvironment and molecular categorization of cancer have resulted in proposals for their inclusion in TNM staging as potential complementary factors that enhance survival prediction and prognostic assessment ability. The purpose of this study is to conduct a review of the published literature regarding the validity of the 8th AJCC TNM staging system, proposed modifications, and nomograms.

•

The 8th AJCC is valid in prognostic stratification of gastric cancer, however, revisions are still required.

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The yPT staging requires some modifications and inclusion of stages that currently don't exist in the 8th AJCC.

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High lymph nodes count and anatomical localization improve the prediction ability of the current AJCC.

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Nomograms comprising of individual prognostic factors are crucial to the current AJCC.

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Molecular markers positively influence survival prediction of gastric cancer.

Gastric Mixed Neuroendocrine Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Western Center Case Series

BACKGROUND

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) represent a rare tumor composed of adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma components. This study reports a case series of gastric MiNEN and discusses issues related to its diagnosis, management, and outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with gastric MiNEN who underwent surgical resection at our service from 2009 to 2020. Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma served as a comparison group. Clinical, pathologic, and surgical characteristics were compared.

RESULTS

During the selected period, 5 gastric MiNEN patients and 597 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were included. Among the clinical variables, age, sex, BMI, and laboratory exams were similar between the two groups. Only ASA classification was different (p = 0.015). Pathological variables such as tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, number of retrieved lymph nodes, and pTNM staging were also similar between both groups. Lastly, early surgical outcomes and long-term survival did not differ between gastric MiNEN and adenocarcinoma patients.

CONCLUSION

A MiNEN is a rare tumor that represents less than 1% of GC patients undergoing curative treatment, and demonstrated clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes similar to gastric adenocarcinoma.