Background: Osteosarcoma is a rare but aggressive bone malignancy. Despite advances in multimodal therapy, survival remains suboptimal, highlighting the need for prognostic markers to guide treatment. Methods: This study included 162 osteosarcoma patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery between January 2009 and March 2024. Patients received either double (cisplatin + doxorubicin) or triple (MAP or PEI) chemotherapy. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan–Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The median age was 20 years (IQR: 18–29), and 53.1% were male. Patients who received triple chemotherapy regimens demonstrated significantly longer overall survival (OS) compared to those on doublet regimens. High tumor necrosis rates (>90%) and negative surgical margins were strongly associated with improved OS, while metastatic disease at diagnosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and male gender were linked to poorer survival. Multivariate analysis identified adjuvant therapy, age under 18, high necrosis rate, negative margins, and normal ALP as significant OS predictors. Conclusions: Triple-agent chemotherapy, necrosis rate ≥90 and negative surgical margins are strongly associated with prolonged survival in osteosarcoma. The key prognostic indicators such as ALP levels, surgical margins and age at diagnosis should guide personalized treatment strategies to improve outcomes in curable patients.
Background/Objectives: In the REGOMA trial, regorafenib demonstrated an overall survival advantage over lomustine, and it has become a recommended treatment for recurrent glioblastoma in guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of regorafenib as a third-line treatment for patients with recurrent glioblastoma who progressed while taking bevacizumab-based therapy. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study in Turkey included 65 patients treated between 2021 and 2023 across 19 oncology centers. The main inclusion criteria were histologically confirmed isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma, progression after second-line bevacizumab-based treatment, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of ≤2. Patients received regorafenib 160 mg once daily for the first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle. Results: The median age of the patients was 53 years (18–67 years), with a median progression-free survival of 2.5 months (95% Confidence Interval: 2.23–2.75) and a median overall survival of 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.52–4.68). The median overall survival was improved in patients who received subsequent therapy after regorafenib treatment compared with those who did not (p = 0.022). Progression-free survival was longer in patients with ECOG 0–1 than in those with ECOG 2 (p = 0.042). The safety profile was consistent with that of the REGOMA trial, with no drug-related deaths observed. Conclusions: Regorafenib shows good efficacy and safety as a third-line treatment for recurrent glioblastoma after bevacizumab-based therapy. This study supports the use of regorafenib and emphasizes the need for further randomized studies to validate its role and optimize treatment strategies.
17 June 2025 in Clinical and Translational Oncology
Purpose: The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score is a novel immune nutritional index associated with the prognosis of various malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of the HALP score in predicting recurrence, metastasis, and survival outcomes in patients with testicular cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 131 patients with histologically confirmed testicular cancer who were treated between January 2010 and December 2024. HALP scores were calculated using the baseline laboratory parameters. An optimal cutoff value of 304.56 was identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (AUC: 0.820; 95% CI 0.708–0.902; p < 0.001). Patients were stratified into high and low HALP groups based on this threshold value. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Results: The median HALP score was 531.1 (IQR: 348.8–728.5). A low HALP score (≤ 304.56) was significantly associated with poorer 1-year overall survival (54.5% vs. 98.2%, p < 0.001) and a 15.6-fold increased risk of death (HR 15.604, 95% CI 2.718–89.645, p = 0.001) based on Cox regression analysis. In the multivariate analysis, a low HALP score (HR: 7.684, p = 0.016), the presence of comorbidity (HR 13.528, p = 0.002), and tunica albuginea invasion (HR 7.255, p = 0.030) were identified as independent predictors of recurrence or metastasis. In addition, the HALP score was significantly associated with disease stage ( p < 0.001), with lower scores more commonly observed in patients with advanced-stage disease. Conclusions: The HALP score was a simple, inexpensive, and effective prognostic biomarker in testicular cancer. A score ≤ 304.56 is independently associated with a higher risk of recurrence, metastasis, and mortality. Incorporating HALP into routine assessments may improve risk stratification and clinical decision-making in this patient population.
Background/Objectives: Nivolumab has significantly improved outcomes in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, reliable prognostic biomarkers remain an unmet need. To address this gap, we developed the SUVmax-IPI, a novel prognostic index combining maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with systemic inflammatory markers. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of SUVmax-IPI in patients with NSCLC receiving nivolumab therapy. Methods: This multicenter retrospective analysis included 187 patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving nivolumab across 5 tertiary institutions. The SUVmax-IPI incorporated pretreatment SUVmax and laboratory-based inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) parameters. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis with log-rank testing and multivariate cox regression. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis established an optimal SUVmax-IPI cut-off of 241.9. Patients with SUVmax-IPI ≤ 241.9 had significantly better survival outcomes: median overall survival (OS) was 35 versus 15 months (p = 0.002). For progression-free survival (PFS), although a numerical difference favored patients with SUVmax-IPI ≤ 241.9 (median: 15 vs. 8 months), this did not reach statistical significance (log-rank p = 0.175). Multivariate analysis confirmed SUVmax-IPI as an independent predictor of survival (p = 0.002). Conclusions: The SUVmax-IPI represents a promising prognostic tool for patients with metastatic NSCLC who received at least 3 months of nivolumab, integrating metabolic and inflammatory parameters to predict survival outcomes.
Background and Objectives: Systemic inflammation plays a critical role in cancer progression and prognosis. The Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), a novel marker integrating neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts, has been suggested as a prognostic indicator in various malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of SIRI in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 147 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who received first-line chemotherapy or best supportive care between 2010 and 2024. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from medical records. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: The median OS and PFS were 7 and 4 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that ECOG ≥ 2 (HR: 2.094, p = 0.019), liver metastasis (HR: 2.039, p = 0.027), and each unit increase in SIRI (HR: 1.156, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of poorer OS. Patients with SIRI > 1.86 had significantly shorter OS compared to those with SIRI ≤ 1.86 (median OS: 4 vs. 9 months, p = 0.019). Conclusions: SIRI is an independent prognostic marker for survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients undergoing first-line and subsequent lines of chemotherapy. These inflammation-based markers are simple, cost-effective tools that could be integrated into routine clinical practice to aid in risk assessment and treatment planning.
Background and Objectives: In early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer, ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) has been adopted as the preferred adjuvant approach for patients left with residual invasive disease despite neoadjuvant therapy. The influence of different neoadjuvant regimens on subsequent outcomes in real-world settings remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: From 2019 to 2025, 102 patients treated with adjuvant T-DM1 following surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively assessed. Neoadjuvant regimens included doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by trastuzumab-paclitaxel, doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide with pertuzumab–trastuzumab–docetaxel, or docetaxel–carboplatin–trastuzumab–pertuzumab. Clinical features, treatment response, survival, and toxicity were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 49.7 years, and the majority of patients (80.4%) were aged 40 years or older. Hormone receptor positivity was 82.0%, and invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for 97.1% of cases. Regional responses included 39.2% with axillary pCR despite residual breast lesions, and 5.9% with breast pCR accompanied by axillary disease. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated disease-free survival rates of 100%, 95.2%, and 92.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Adverse events were predominantly grade 1–2, while grade 3–4 toxicities occurred in under 5% of the cohort. Baseline characteristics varied across regimens, reflecting real-world treatment preferences, but survival outcomes remained comparable. Conclusions: Adjuvant T-DM1 was associated with high survival rates and manageable toxicity across different neoadjuvant regimens, underscoring its consistent benefit in routine clinical practice.