Cancer diagnosis & prognosis最新文献

{"title":"Stressful Events in Life Due to Losses and Deficit Could Predict 25-year Outcome in Patients With Breast Cancer Symptoms.","authors":"Matti Eskelinen, Riika Koskela, Tuomas Selander, Kai Kaarniranta, Paula Ollonen, Maaret Eskelinen","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10543","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Psychosocial stressful (PS) factors like losses and deficit could associate indirectly to breast carcinoma (BC) risk, but the long-term impact of losses, deficit and stressful (LDS) events on outcome of patients with BC symptoms is rarely reported.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A study cohortof 115 patients with BC symptoms completed the LDS inventory (LDSI). Associations between LDSI and long-term outcomes were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the Cox model, the LDSI predicted the 25-year relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with BC [hazard ratio (HR)=5.02, <i>p</i>=0.01] and the LDSI scale predicted 25-year overall survival (OS) in women with BC symptoms (HR=2.37, <i>p</i>=0.05). In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis by the log-rank test, the 25-year relapse rate differed between low LDSI (<83) <i>versus</i> the high LDSI (≥83) in patients with BC symptoms (27.9% <i>versus</i> 54.5%, log-rank <i>p-</i>value=0. 098). Also, the low LDSI (<83) was a favourable predictor of the RFS [HR=5.02, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42-17.8, <i>p</i>=0.01] in patients with BC. The 25-year OS rate differed between low LDSI (<83) <i>versus</i> the high LDSI score (≥83) patients with BC symptoms (19.8% <i>versus</i> 36.8%, log-rank <i>p</i>-value=0.048). A similar figure was seen in BC as the LDSI predicted 25-year OS in female patients with BC (44.4% <i>versus</i> 71.4%, log-rank <i>p</i>-value=0.048).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found a significant long-term outcome effect for LDS events on both women with BC symptoms and patients with BC. These findings suggest that further research is needed to substantiate whether LDSI approach could be an important addition to PS events screening criteria for preventative or early BC care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"434-444"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response-survival Association Differs by Hepatic Reserve in Unresectable HCC Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.","authors":"Akifumi Kuwano, Masayoshi Yada, Kosuke Tanaka, Taikan Hamamoto, Kazuki Kurosaka, Hideo Suzuki, Kenta Motomura","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Evidence supporting atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in patients with Child-Pugh B (CP-B) liver function is limited. We investigated whether the prognostic significance of radiologic response differs according to hepatic reserve and evaluated the impact of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 105 consecutive patients with uHCC treated with Atez/Bev (CP-A, n=82; CP-B, n=23). Tumor response was assessed by modified RECIST, and overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Baseline NLR was evaluated using a prespecified cut-off of 2.56.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Response was not evaluable more often in CP-B than in CP-A (21.7% <i>vs</i>. 4.8%). In CP-A, objective response and disease control were each associated with longer OS (<i>p</i>=0.002 and <i>p</i>=0.003, respectively). In CP-B, neither objective response nor disease control was significantly associated with OS; OS was similar for stable disease and objective response (10.6 <i>vs</i>. 10.7 months). Across the cohort, NLR <2.56 was associated with longer OS and remained prognostic in both CP-A and CP-B.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prognostic meaning of radiologic response differed according to hepatic reserve. While objective response is strongly associated with survival in CP-A, disease stabilization may represent clinically meaningful benefit in CP-B. Baseline NLR may aid risk stratification in CP-B uHCC treated with Atez/Bev.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"559-569"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the Diagnostic Value of the UF-5000 Parameter Atyp.C in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.","authors":"Ryu Shigehisa, Satoshi Fukata, Keisuke Sugimoto, Shiori Miyazaki, Shinji Tokuhiro, Anantya Pustimbara, Chiaki Kawada, Sho Shimasaki, Erika Yamashita, Yoshitaka Kurano, Kaya Atagi, Daigo Takemori, Shinkuro Yamamoto, Hiroto Osakabe, Tomoya Nao, Tsutomu Shimamoto, Hideo Fukuhara, Nobutaka Shimizu, Shingo Ashida, Keiji Inoue","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Urine cytology is widely used for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma. However, it has limited sensitivity, particularly in upper tract urothelial carcinoma. The UF-5000 automated urine analyzer includes the research parameter Atyp.C, which quantifies cells with a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio. Although it has been utilized in bladder cancer, its application has not been evaluated in upper tract urothelial carcinoma. This study compared the diagnostic performance of urine cytology versus Atyp.C and assessed the advantage of combining them.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 41 patients with pathologically confirmed upper tract urothelial carcinoma without concomitant bladder cancer, as confirmed via cystoscopy. The sensitivities of urine cytology (Class ≥III), Atyp.C (≥0.1), and their combined use were compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Positive findings on urine cytology were detected in 11/41 patients (26.8%) and Atyp.C was observed in 9/41 (22.0%). When either test yielded a positive result, the detection rate increased to 17/41 (41.5%). A paired comparison using McNemar's test demonstrated that the combined cytology-Atyp.C approach detected significantly more upper tract urothelial carcinoma cases than urine cytology alone (6 <i>vs</i>. 0 discordant pairs, <i>p</i>=0.041).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The sensitivity of Atyp.C was similar to that of urine cytology. Some patients without hydronephrosis presented with Atyp.C positivity. However, this finding may be overlooked in routine clinical practice. Although its performance is lower than that reported in bladder cancer, Atyp.C is non-invasive and does not require additional procedures. Hence, it can be clinically useful for upper tract urothelial carcinoma diagnosis. Nevertheless, to validate this notion, prospective studies should be conducted.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"493-501"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Pretreatment White Blood Cell Count and Early Progression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.","authors":"Yutaka Takahara, Ryudai Abe, Sumito Nagae, Takuya Tanaka, Yoko Ishige, Ikuyo Shionoya, Kouichi Yamamura, Masafumi Nojiri, Masaharu Iguchi","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10550","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts, frequently observed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), are associated with poor prognosis; however, their relevance in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapy remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC. Patients were stratified according to the presence of leukocytosis (WBC ≥10,000/μl). Clinical characteristics, treatment responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify independent prognostic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with elevated WBC counts were younger, had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, tended to have a higher frequency of PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) positivity at baseline, and exhibited a significantly lower objective response rate to first-line therapy (<i>p=</i>0.044). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that elevated WBC counts were significantly associated with shorter PFS (<i>p<</i>0.001). In multivariate Cox analysis, an elevated WBC count remained independently associated with poorer PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=4.625, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.969-10.864, <i>p</i><0.001]. An optimal CRP cutoff value of 0.555 mg/dL was identified <i>via</i> receiver operating characteristic analysis. Elevated CRP levels were independently associated with worse OS (HR=2.251, 95%CI=1.110-4.567, <i>p=</i>0.025) and PFS (HR=1.729, 95%CI=1.080-2.769, <i>p=</i>0.023).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pretreatment leukocytosis was associated with early disease progression in NSCLC, even in PD-L1-positive cases. Furthermore, elevated CRP levels provided additional prognostic stratification for PFS and OS. Thus, WBC count and CRP may serve as practical and readily accessible tools for early treatment evaluation and risk stratification in the management of NSCLC in the ICI era.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"502-509"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133863/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemotherapy in Combination With Methionine Restriction Induced A Complete Response in a Patient With Recurrent Metastatic Tongue Squamous-Cell Carcinoma.","authors":"Tomoyuki Ishiguro, Toshihiko Sato, Qinghong Han, Shukuan Li, Yuta Miyashi, Byung Mo Kang, Jin Soo Kim, Takuya Tsunoda, Robert M Hoffman","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10542","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10542","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Recurrent head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options, particularly after failure of standard therapies including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Methionine restriction has emerged as a novel clinical metabolic therapeutic strategy targeting the methionine addiction of cancer cells. The present patient report describes a case of recurrent tongue HNSCC that achieved complete remission with chemotherapy combined with methionine restriction.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 35-year-old man was diagnosed with HNSCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (cT2N2bM0, Stage IVA). The patient underwent curative-intent surgery consisting of partial glossectomy and neck dissection. Despite multimodal treatment, including induction chemotherapy, salvage surgery, postoperative chemoradiotherapy, and subsequent immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, the tumor recurred in the left submandibular region. Following further progression, combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cetuximab was administered in combination with methionine restriction (MR), consisting of a low-methionine diet and oral recombinant methioninase (rMETase), rMETase was produced using recombinant <i>Escherichia coli</i> expressing the <i>methioninase</i> gene from <i>Pseudomonas putida</i> and purified by standard methods. Tumor metabolic activity was evaluated using [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) performed according to standard clinical protocols. Rapid tumor regression was observed. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET/CT demonstrated complete response, which was maintained after de-escalation to cetuximab combined with MR.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present case demonstrates the potential clinical efficacy of combining chemotherapy with MR in the treatment of recurrent HNSCC after curative-intent surgery and failure of standard therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibition. MR may represent a promising metabolic therapeutic approach for refractory HNSCC. Αdditional cases and prospective clinical trials are necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"428-433"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Quality of Life and Risk Factors in Patients With Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy Including Those With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.","authors":"Toru Ishikawa, Riho Ito, Narumi Arita, Yusuke Matsuhashi, Terasu Honma","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10553","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) is associated with a decline in quality of life (QOL), requiring early detection and intervention. We aimed to determine CHE prevalence, QOL correlations, and risk factors in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. This study evaluated neuropsychological test (NPT) results and QOL in these patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 56 patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized at our institution from January to November 2024 and underwent simultaneous short form health survey (SF-36) testing and NPT. The NPT included the number connection (NCT)-A and Stroop tests. QOL was assessed using the SF-36, and risk factors evaluated using hematological data at admission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean patient age was 67.5 years, with 39 men and 17 women. Hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in 35 patients (63%). Underlying liver diseases were: hepatitis C virus in seven patients, hepatitis B virus in four, alcohol damage in 16, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in 10, autoimmune hepatitis in four, and others in 15. CHE was detected in 24 patients (43%): three (13%) with abnormal NCT-A findings, 14 (58%) with abnormal Stroop findings, and seven (29%) with both abnormalities. On SF-36 assessment, patients with CHE had significantly lower role-physical (RP) scores than those without CHE [30.80 (2.55-55.72) <i>vs</i>. 49.07 (12.52-55.72), <i>p</i>=0.022]. Furthermore, role-emotion and vitality tended to be lower in patients with CHE. Patients with CHE also had significantly lower Zn levels than those without [67 (42-110) <i>vs</i>. 81 (44-190); <i>p</i>=0.016].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with CHE experienced reduced QOL RP and low Zn levels, suggesting that early Zn supplementation may improve CHE and enhance QOL.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"537-543"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133852/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GRIm Score Predicts Curative Conversion Surgery in Unresectable Gastric Cancer.","authors":"Tomoyuki Nagata, Sae Morishita, Yuya Arimura, Haruka Fujimoto, Masahiro Kojo, Kenichi Takemoto, Yayoi Kadotani, Kei Naito, Katsunori Nakano","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10545","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Conversion surgery can prolong survival in initially unresectable gastric cancer when curative (R0) resection is achieved; however, pre-treatment predictors of R0 conversion remain limited. We investigated whether the Gustave Roussy Immune (GRIm) score predicts R0 resection and survival in patients considered for conversion surgery.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 57 patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer treated with systemic chemotherapy from January 2019 to July 2025. Patients were classified as achieving conversion (AC; conversion surgery with R0 resection) or non-conversion (NC). The GRIm score (albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and clinicopathological variables were evaluated as predictors of R0 resection using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten patients (17.5%) achieved R0 resection. The AC group had lower GRIm scores and a more favorable Yoshida classification than the NC group, and intestinal-type histology was more frequent in the AC group. In multivariate analysis, a low GRIm score (0-1) and Yoshida classification C1-2 were independently associated with R0 resection. OS was significantly longer in patients with low GRIm scores than in those with high scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The GRIm score is an accessible pre-treatment biomarker associated with successful R0 conversion surgery and improved survival in unresectable gastric cancer and may complement the Yoshida classification in candidate selection.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"454-463"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133802/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Predictors and Long-term Outcomes of Non-benign Breast Phyllodes Tumors.","authors":"Emi Tsukiyama, Akira Matsui, Hirohito Seki, Erina Odani, Marika Sato, Hinako Tezuka, Yuya Murata, Takayuki Kinoshita","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Phyllodes tumors of the breast are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms with heterogeneous biological behavior. Reliable preoperative predictors of non-Benign (borderline and malignant) tumors remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to identify clinical predictors of non-Benign phyllodes tumors and to evaluate long-term outcomes.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients who underwent surgical resection for breast phyllodes tumors at a single institution. Tumors were classified as benign, borderline, or malignant according to World Health Organization criteria. The presence of rapid tumor growth was determined based on clinical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of non-Benign tumors. Local recurrence-free survival was assessed using long-term follow-up data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 106 tumors, 54 were benign, 46 borderline, and 6 malignant. The median follow-up period was 109 months. In univariate analysis, age and the presence of rapid tumor growth were significantly associated with non-Benign tumors. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that both age and the presence of rapid tumor growth were independent predictors of non-Benign phyllodes tumors. Tumor size and preoperative diagnosis were not independently associated with non-Benign tumors. Only one case (0.9%) of local recurrence was observed, and no distant metastases occurred during follow-up.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Breast phyllodes tumors have an excellent long-term prognosis with a very low risk of recurrence. Age and the presence of rapid tumor growth are useful clinical indicators for predicting non-Benign phyllodes tumors and may aid in preoperative assessment and clinical decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"472-478"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristic Clinical Features of Melanoma in Patients With Excised Skin Lesions.","authors":"Oliwia Majewska, Piotr Kulig, Paweł Brzewski, Jan Kulig, Anna Markiewicz","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the risk of melanoma in patients with excised skin lesions (ESLs) considering their clinical features.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A total of 126 cases of ESLs were collected between December 2021 and April 2025. The clinical features of 109 benign skin lesions (BSLs), 10 non-nodular melanomas (NNMs), and seven nodular melanomas (NMs) were analyzed according to the ABCDE criteria, the ABCDE-EFG method, and the 7-point checklist (7-PCL) scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In univariate analysis, compared to BSLs, NNMs presented more common irregular borders (<i>p</i>=0.029), color variegation (<i>p</i>=0.015), diameter greater than 6 mm (<i>p</i>=0.031), evolution in size, shape or color within six months (<i>p</i>=0.005), rapid growth within six weeks/atypical skin lesion <i>de novo</i> (<i>p</i>=0.019). NMs, compared to BSLs, were more likely to show evolution in size, shape or color within six months (<i>p</i>=0.003), elevation (<i>p</i>=0.003), firm to touch (<i>p</i><0.001), and rapid growth within six weeks/atypical skin lesion <i>de novo</i> (<i>p</i><0.001). In the Firth's penalized logistic regression, rapid growth within six weeks/atypical skin lesion <i>de novo</i> was significantly more frequent in NNMs compared to BSLs [odds ratio (OR)=31.36, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42-11350.06, <i>p=</i>0.028], and in both NNMs and NMs compared to BSLs (OR=27.32, 95% CI=3.64-540.48, <i>p</i><0.001). Color variegation (OR=25.06, 95% CI=2.80-681.62, <i>p</i>=0.002) and evolution in size, shape or color within six months (OR=6.02, 95% CI=1.21-55.19, <i>p</i>=0.027) were also found to be significant in differentiating for both NNMs and NMs compared to BSLs. However, in multivariate analysis, for NMs alone, no clinical features were significantly more frequent compared to BSLs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The most important clinical features increasing the risk of melanoma were rapid growth within six weeks/atypical skin lesion <i>de novo</i>, color variegation and evolution in size, shape or color within six months, but not for NMs cases alone in the Firth's penalized logistic regression.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"408-418"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133750/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Value of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels After Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Low Rectal Cancer.","authors":"Atsushi Tsuruta, Kazuhiko Yoshimatsu, Tomio Ueno","doi":"10.21873/cdp.10551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21873/cdp.10551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for advanced low rectal cancer; however, long-term oncological outcomes vary widely, and reliable prognostic biomarkers remain limited. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is commonly used in colorectal cancer management, but the prognostic value of post-CRT CEA levels has not been fully clarified. This study aimed to identify clinically relevant prognostic factors for recurrence and survival, with particular focus on pre- and post-CRT CEA levels.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A retrospective review was conducted of 41 consecutive patients with advanced low rectal cancer (Rb, cT3/4 or N1/2 and no lateral lymph node metastasis) who underwent long-course preoperative CRT followed by radical surgery. CRT consisted of 45 Gy in 25 fractions with concurrent tegafur/uracil, followed by total mesorectal excision 8-10 weeks after CRT completion. Clinicopathological factors were analyzed in relation to recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>With a median follow-up of 69.3 months, recurrence occurred in 16 patients. Five-year DFS and OS rates were 59.4% and 73.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified postoperative complications, pathological complete response, and pre- and post-CRT CEA levels as significant factors associated with recurrence. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that post-CRT CEA was the only independent prognostic factor. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a post-CRT CEA cut-off value of 3.9 ng/ml. Patients with lower post-CRT CEA showed significantly better DFS and OS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Post-CRT CEA is a valuable prognostic biomarker for recurrence and survival in advanced low rectal cancer, and patients with elevated post-CRT CEA may benefit from additional consolidation chemotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":72510,"journal":{"name":"Cancer diagnosis & prognosis","volume":"6 3","pages":"510-519"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}