Prognostic Value of NLR, PLR, SII, and dNLR in Urothelial Bladder Cancer Following Radical Cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a crucial role in tumor development and progression, with inflammatory markers showing promise in predicting cancer prognosis. However, their significance in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), especially in the context of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), remains poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) for overall survival (OS) in bladder cancer (BC) patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) in the NAC era. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review analyzed prospectively-collected data from our institutional BC registry, covering patients with MIBC undergoing RC with curative intent from March 1st, 2016, to December 31st, 2022. Blood samples were collected preoperatively to calculate NLR, PLR, SII, and dNLR. OS was defined from surgery to last follow-up or death. Statistical analyses included ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier Curves, and Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: A total of 187 patients with median duration follow-up of 14.7 month were included in this study and 50.8% experienced death. NAC was administered in 50.3% of cases. The ideal cut-off for dichotomizing NLR, PLR, SII, and dNLR was 1.76, 104.30, 410.66, and 1.30, respectively. In multivariable analysis each of these biomarkers emerged as an independent prognostic factor for predicting OS. The results showed a correlation between higher NLR, PLR, SII, and dNLR levels and a deterioration in OS. CONCLUSION: Elevated values of these inflammatory markers indicate poorer survival, highlighting their potential as indicators of disease aggressiveness. Identifying patients with elevated markers can help healthcare providers personalize treatment strategies, improving patient outcomes and survival rates.

Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes (LODDS) as an Independent Predictor of Overall Survival Following Radical Cystectomy in Urothelial Bladder Cancer: Time to Rethink Conventional Node Staging.

BACKGROUND: Radical cystectomy (RC) with lymph node dissection is the mainstay of treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and high risk non-MIBC. The American Joint Committee on Cancer's (AJCC) node staging and lymph node ratio (LNR) systems are used in estimating prognosis; however, they do not directly factor in negative dissected nodes. In this study, we evaluated the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), a novel measure of nodal involvement, as a predictor of survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-three patients who underwent RC were retrospectively included and their demographic and clinical data were collected. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression were used for survival analyses. RESULTS: Median number of dissected lymph nodes was 13 (range 3-45). ROC curve analysis indicated -0.92 as the optimal LODDS cutoff. LODDS > -0.92 was associated with higher T stage, lymphovascular invasion, and significantly worse overall survival (OS) (mean OS 18.6 vs. 45.1 months, P-value < .001). Furthermore, we evaluated AJCC node staging, LNR, and LODDS in three separate multivariable Cox regression models. Among 3 different measures of nodal disease burden, only LODDS was an independent predictor of OS (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.28-5.73, P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that LODDS is an independent predictor of OS and outperforms AJCC node staging and LNR in forecasting prognosis among patients with urothelial bladder cancer who undergo RC.

Management of lymph nodes in medullary thyroid carcinoma: A review.

Introduction: Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) as a neuroendocrine tumor that arises from the parafollicular C-cells and shows a potentially aggressive behavior with early lymph node metastasis. MTC cells do not absorb radioactive iodine and are not sensitive to Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) suppression, and therefore surgery is the most effective option for curative therapy. Results: Medical imaging and biomarkers (calcitonin & CEA) assessment are necessary to determine the appropriate approach to lymph nodes surgery in MTC. Prophylactic central, lateral or contralateral neck dissections are recommended based on calcitonin level and volume of tumor. In general, guidelines are in agreement with prophylactic central dissection in most cases. Central and lateral dissections are recommended in all guidelines and review articles if lymphadenopathy is confirmed in preoperative examinations. Because lymph node dissection in most cases of locally advanced or metastatic MTC has no prognostic effect, dissection is done with palliative goal with maximum attention to maintaining function in these cases. In patients with an incomplete lymph node dissection, decision for reoperation can be based on calcitonin levels and the number of metastatic lymph nodes removed in previous surgery. Symptoms as well as speed of disease progression are also important in adopting the type of surgery. Consensus is in favor of reoperation in patients with recurrent regional MTC without distant metastasis. Conclusion: Thyroidectomy is mandatory in patients with MTC but the type and extension of lymph node dissection are depending on the calcitonin level and tumor burden.

Association Between Preoperative De Ritis (AST/ALT) Ratio and Oncological Outcomes Following Radical Cystectomy in Patients With Urothelial Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radical cystectomy in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for muscle invasive bladder cancer (BC). However, response to treatment varies between patients. Considering the role of hepatic glucose metabolism in urothelial cancer, AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio) has the potential to serve as a prognostic factor for bladder cancer and a predictor for treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent radical cystectomy between March 2016 - March 2019. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on De Ritis ratio (< 1.3 [normal] vs. ≥ 1.3 [high]). Demographics, disease severity, treatment status, and disease outcome (90-day mortality and overall survival [OS]) were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients were included, 62.9% of them having a De Ritis ratio of < 1.3 and 37.1% with a De Ritis ratio of ≥ 1.3. Mean OS was significantly higher in patients with normal De Ritis ratio (40.84 vs. 18.28 months, P < .001), and 90-day mortality rate was lower in these patients (8.9% vs. 36.4%, P = .001). Moreover, De Ritis ratio was the sole independent predictor of OS in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSION: De Ritis ratio is an independent prognostic factor in BC patients who underwent radical cystectomy. Furthermore, higher De Ritis ratio is associated with worse OS and a higher 90-day mortality rate after surgery, and therefore, has the potential to serve as a predictor of treatment outcome in BC patients.

What is the best treatment option for head and neck cancers in COVID-19 pandemic? A rapid review.

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in late 2019, the health care systems of different countries are experiencing stressful conditions. Many patients need care in hospital wards and intensive care units (ICU). Head & neck cancers (HNC) are in a special condition in this pandemic. The main treatment in these patients is surgery. Most of these patients need care in the ICU, which is reduced in capacity in pandemic conditions. It's important to note that delays in the surgery of these patients make them non-operable and on the other hand increase mortality and morbidity. Numerous non-surgical alternative therapies have been proposed in these conditions, but there are fundamental questions about these suggestions. 1 How long should we look for alternative therapies? Because many countries are facing a second wave of the disease. 2 What's the effect of these alternative therapies and the delay in starting standard treatments in patients' survival? Different countries have different financial resources; many countries, patients face restrictions on receiving alternative therapies to standard treatments, and in non-pandemic conditions, long queues are given for non-surgical treatments such as chemo-radiotherapy. There are numerous guidelines to guide head and neck surgeons to the best choice in this situation. It seems that different countries have to make individual decisions based on the prevalence of COVID-19 and the financial resources and facilities of the health care system. In this review article, we have collected the opinions of world-renowned guidelines and institutions on how to treat HNCs during the pandemic.

Lymph Node Ratio: Is It an Independent Prognostic Factor for Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma?

Objective: Lymph node ratio (LNR) is defined as the ratio of the number of metastatic lymph nodes to the dissected lymph nodes. LNR is a prognostic factor for many tumor types. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of LNR in melanoma. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 123 patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the correlations between LNR and other clinicopathological factors associated with survival. The patients were divided into four groups in terms of the LNR, including groups A (LNR≤0.18), B (0.180.625). Results: Initially, LNR was evaluated as a continuous quantity associated with survival. In the univariate analysis, a significant correlation was observed between LNR, overall survival (OS), and disease free survival (DFS). Meanwhile, the only association observed in the multivariate analysis was between LNR and OS. Increased LNR from group A to group D reduced OS from 46 (±44.09) to 22.5 (±16.33) months (P=0.022). According to the multivariate analysis, prognostic factors in OS were tumor thickness, American joint committee of cancer (AJCC) N stage, interferon administration, and undergoing chemotherapy. Conclusion: According to the results, LNR could be used as an independent prognostic factor for estimating the survival of patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma also designing an effective adjuvant treatment protocol for these patients.