Can ROMA algorithm stratify ovarian tumor patients better when being based on specific age ranges instead of the premenopausal and postmenopausal status?
verfasst von:
Anita Chudecka-Głaz, Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska, Jolanta Jastrzębska, Janusz Menkiszak
After several years of research, HE4 was found to be characterized by slightly worse sensitivity but significantly higher specificity as compared with CA125. Further studies led to the diagnostic potential of both markers (CA125 and HE4) being combined in a single risk of malignancy algorithm (ROMA) algorithm. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic capabilities of the ROMA algorithm using age ranges instead of dichotomization of patients according to the pre- and postmenopausal status. A total of 413 female patients were included in the study, including 162 premenopausal and 251 postmenopausal women. Calculation of the final ROMA values was achieved by means of stepwise reduction of coefficients in the proposed formula of: %ROMA = exp(PI)/[1-exp(PI)]*100) and PI = A + W(HE4)*ln(HE4) + W(CA125)*ln (CA125) and the arrangement of values with consideration to the age group, HE4 level, differentiation of modification, and directional coefficients as well as determination of individual deviations affecting the widening of the median. The cutoff value of modified algorithm ROMA P for the entire study population was calculated from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong method at the levels of 23.5 %. Marked higher sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) values are observed for the standard ROMA algorithm while higher specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) values are observed for the modified algorithm ROMA P. The proposed age-related modification of algorithm calculation does not require the patients being dichotomized according to their pre- or postmenopausal status, and satisfactory diagnostic values may be obtained using a single cutoff point for the entire population.
Introduction
Ovarian cancer is responsible for the largest number of deaths due to gynecological cancers in European and North American women. Worldwide, it is second only to cervical cancer. Annual incidence of ovarian cancer is estimated at more than 200,000 cases while the mortality is estimated at over 150,000 of deaths [1]. Currently, we have no sufficient capabilities to perform ovarian cancer screening examinations in the entire population of women. The partial screening program includes high-risk patients with BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutations [2]. Therefore, the main stress is placed on the possibilities of earlier diagnostics and identification of ovarian cancer at earlier stages of the disease. Clinical staging remains one of the most important prognostic factors that impact the survival parameters in patients [3]. The first marker used in routine diagnostics of ovarian cancer was the antigen CA125, widely used to date [4]. In 2003, Hellstrom et al. [5] were the first to report the potential use of HE4 as a marker in the diagnostics of ovarian cancer. After several years of research, HE4 was found to be characterized by slightly worse sensitivity but significantly higher specificity as compared with CA125 [6‐11]. Further studies led to the diagnostic potential of both markers (CA125 and HE4) being combined in a single risk of malignancy algorithm (ROMA) [12‐16]. According to numerous studies conducted to date, ROMA appears to be one of the best methods for stratification of ovarian tumor patients into groups of high vs. low risk of ovarian cancer. The algorithm is objective, easy to perform, inexpensive, and characterized by appropriate sensitivity and specificity [12, 13]. However, the search for methods for achieving better results in terms of the algorithm’s sensitivity and specificity is ongoing [17, 18].
The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic capabilities of the ROMA algorithm using age ranges instead of dichotomization of patients according to the pre- and postmenopausal status.
Anzeige
Materials and methods
Patients
A total of 413 female patients were included in the study, including 162 premenopausal and 251 postmenopausal women. Patients were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Gynecological Surgery and Gynecological Oncology Adults and Adolescents in Szczecin, Poland, between 2011 and 2015. Qualified for the study were the consecutive patients who attend the hospital presenting with ovarian tumor, ovarian cyst, or ascites (suspected ovarian cancer). After informed consent was obtained, blood samples were collected simultaneously and serum levels of HE4 and CA125 were determined on current basis without freezing at the hospital’s Central Laboratory. All the samples were taken before diagnosis, not in the follow-up period. Both markers are routinely determined in all patients reporting to our clinic with adnexal lesions. ROMA algorithm analyses based on specific age groups were performed in a retrospective manner after an appropriate formula was determined. In the clinical decision-making process, each marker was analyzed separately. After histopathological examination results were obtained, patients were finally qualified into one of the two groups:
A.
Patients with ovarian cancer
B.
Patients with benign adnexal lesions
Patients with history of chronic renal diseases, history of chronic lung diseases, metastatic ovarian tumors, ongoing treatment of other cancers, or presenting with elevated creatinine levels were not qualified to the study. A detailed division of patients in both groups is presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Patients characteristics
Ovarian cancers n (%)
Benign diseases n (%)
162
251
Age
Median
59.7 (24–90)
35 (18–88)
Range
Hormonal status
Premenopausal
38 (23.5)
214 (85.3)
Postmenopausal
124 (76.5)
37 (14.7)
Age interval
W1 ( <20 YO)
–
38 (15.1)
W2 (21–30)
3 (1.9)
55 (21.9)
W3 (31–40)
7 (4.3)
73 (29.1)
W4 (41–50)
28 (17.3)
48 (19.1)
W5 (51–60)
47 (29)
22 (8.8)
W6 (61–70)
43 (26.5)
10 (4)
W7 (71–80)
25 (15.4)
4 (1.6)
W8 (>81)
9 (5.6)
1 (0.4)
Ovarian cancer histopathology
NA
Serous
132 (81.5)
NA
Mucinous
9 (5.6)
NA
Clear cell
8 (4.9)
NA
Endometrioid
13 (8)
NA
Oarian cancer FIGO stage
NA
Stages I and II
54 (33.3)
NA
Stages III and IV
105 (64.7)
NA
Ovarian cancer grade
NA
Grade 1
34 (21)
NA
Grade 2
54 (33.3)
NA
Grade 3
74 (45.7)
NA
Benign tumor histopathology
Endometriosis
NA
120 (47.8)
Teratoma
NA
43 (17.1)
Follicular cysts
NA
33 (13.1)
Paraovarian cysts
NA
26 (10.4)
Hemorrhagic cysts
NA
28 (11.6)
Median values and ranges were determined for both groups and all respective subgroups, with appropriate comparisons being made with respect to the levels of HE4 and CA125, ROMA algorithm calculated in the standard manner (ROMA) as well as the modified ROMA algorithm (ROMA P). Sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values of CA125 and HE4 were determined for the standard and the modified algorithm. Additionally, diagnostic usefulness of each marker was determined using ROC-AUC.
Calculation of the final ROMA values was achieved by means of stepwise reduction of coefficients in the proposed formula of:
%ROMA = exp(PI)/[1-exp(PI)]*100,
PI = A + W(HE4)*ln(HE4) + W(CA125)*ln (CA125),
Below 20 years old: A = −12; W(HE4) = 2.38; W(CA125) = 0.063,
From 21 to 30 years old: A = −11.44; W(HE4) = 2.19; W(CA125) = 0.158,
From 31 to 40 years old: A = −10.88; W(HE4) = 2; W(CA125) = 0.254,
From 41 to 50 years old: A = −10.32; W(HE4) = 1.81; W(CA125) = 0.349,
From 51 to 60 years old: A = −9.77; W(HE4) = 1.61; W(CA125) = 0.445,
From 61 to 70 years old: A = −9.21; W(HE4) = 1.42; W(CA125) = 0.541,
From 71 to 80 years old: A = −8.65; W(HE4) = 1.23; W(CA125) = 0.636,
Above 80 years old: A = −8.09; W(HE4) = 1.04; W(CA125) = 0.732.
Anzeige
In the calculation, we used also the arrangement of values with consideration to the age group, HE4 level, differentiation of modification and directional coefficients, as well as determination of individual deviations affecting the widening of the median.
Laboratory methods
The HE4 serum levels of the marker were determined using the Roche Elecsys® assay on a Cobas e601 apparatus. This is a one-step sandwich electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for quantitative determination of human epididymal protein 4. The detection range for HE4 was 15–1500 pmol/l; in case of values exceeding 1500 pmol/l, the samples were diluted in a 1:20 ratio using Elecsys Diluent.
The CA125 serum levels of the marker were determined using the ARCHITECT CA125 II assay on an ARCHITECT 2200SR System. This is a two-step immunoassay to determine the presence of CA125 antigen using Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) technology.
CA125 and HE4 assays were carried out according to manufacturers’ instructions, with appropriate controls testing within the normal ranges. The detection range for CA125 was 1–35 U/ml.
Statistical analysis
Descriptive characteristics of the examined population of patients were prepared, including the minimum, maximum, mean, and median values. Also, the scatter diagrams of the empirical values of markers were plotted for individual study groups. The mean/median values in individual groups and subgroups were compared using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney’s U test.
The contingency table was used in the assessment of diagnostic usefulness of CA125 and HE4 assays and ROMA values and subsequent calculation of the following parameters:
Sensitivity = TP/TP + FN
Specificity = TN/FP + TN
Positive predictive value (PPV) = TP/TP + FP
Negative predictive value (NPV) = TN/FN + TN
The diagnostic performance was studied using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves based on continuous variables. HE4, CA125, and ROMA represented diagnostic variables acting as stimulants which increase the probability of ovarian cancer proportionally to their rising value. The area under curve (AUC), standard error (SEAUC), and confidence interval (CIAUC) values for AUC were calculated according to the nonparametric method of DeLong. We used this method to compare AUCs considering the fact that measurements of HE4, CA125, and ROMA were done for the same objects (groups of patients). The level of significance was taken as p < 0.05.
Results
Patient, biomarker, and algorithm baseline characteristics
Detailed characteristics of patients are presented in Table 1. The analysis included a total of 162 patients with ovarian cancer. As much as 81.5 % of these cancers were serous and 64.7 % of serous was of a high clinical stage. The group of benign gynecological disorders consisted of 251 patients, 47.8 % of those being diagnosed with endometriosis. Also presented in Table 1 is the distribution of patients into individual age groups used for modification of the ROMA algorithm.
Anzeige
Medians and ranges or marker levels as well as values obtained using the standard and the modified ROMA algorithm are presented in Table 2. Comparative analysis between the values from the standard and the modified algorithm revealed no statistically significant differences within the analyzed groups and subgroups. The only clearly evident difference was related to benign disorders being pooled regardless of histopathological type, where the values obtained using the modified algorithm were significantly higher (6.7 vs. 8.29 %, p = 0.0001).
Table 2
Serum CA125, HE4, ROMA, and ROMA P levels according to age, histology, FIGO stage, and tumor grade
CA125 (U/ml)
HE4 (pmol/l)
ROMA (%)
ROMA P (%)
p (ROMA vs. ROMA P)
Median
Range
Median
Range
Median
Range
Median
Range
Ovarian cancer (all)
397.5
9–7459.1
340.7
12–9264
90.3
0.5–100
91.46
1.33–99.9
0.8641
Serous
421.1
9–7459.1
390.7
15–9264
91.9
0.5–100
92.5
1.3–99.9
0.7963
Mucinous
58.8
11.3–600
69.2
15–538
30.1
6.2–95.8
27.2
1.9–96.1
0.9699
Clear cell
389.9
95.8–1725.5
184.8
49.5–849.9
81.5
8.1–98.2
73.7
15.6–98.3
0.9581
Endometrioid
00
41.5–2996.8
340.7
46.1–1235
94.6
21–99.3
93.2
2.5–99.4
0.9591
FIGO stages I and II
130.3
9–2347
79
15–1235
35.3
0.5–99.3
33.6
1.3–99.3
0.8610
FIGO stages III and IV
591
18–7459.1
593.75
20.7–9264
96.8
9–100
97.1
10.1–99.9
0.6691
Grade 1
68.2
9–459.7
70.8
15–414.3
20.5
0.5–93.9
23.1
1.3–93.8
0.9087
Grade 2
420.1
14–7459.1
289.3
20.7–9264
88.5
8.4–100
88.9
10.1–99.9
0.0114
Grade 3
535.1
11.2–5109.8
569.8
20.4–8160
96.7
1–100
96.4
2.98–99.9
0.8963
Benign diseases (all)
22.5
3.2–502.7
46.7
17.8–206.5
6.7
0.7–87
8.29
1.15–85.2
0.0001
Endometriosis
45.5
6.7–377
45.2
17.8–86.7
6.6
0.7–35.34
9.1
1.2–26.16
0.2295
Teratoma tumors
15.5
6.3–51.9
46.6
26.3–724
6.48
1.65–17.9
6.76
1.87–17.6
0.2835
Follicular cysts
14.5
3.2–88
55.3
24.2–206.5
8.76
1.6–65.7
9.9
1.6–67.8
0.4886
Paraovarian cysts
13.7
4.1–52.7
48.6
36.4–186.8
7.5
3.7–87
7.9
3.8–85.2
0.7075
Hemorrhagic cysts
15.4
5.5–274.8
44.3
24.8–95.7
5.7
1.7–31.6
6.5
3.2–30.9
0.6522
AGE interval
W1 ovarian cancer group
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
W2 ovarian cancer group
55.2
27–135.1
45.4
44.1–103.9
6.2
6–35
7.5
7.1–37.7
0.3827
W3 ovarian cancer group
403.6
98.1–1252
95.4
15–464.8
31.5
0.5–95.5
43.6
1.3–95.6
0.3619
W4 ovarian cancer group
265.4
14–4638.8
92.9
15–1500
34.7
0.5–99.7
44.7
1.3–99.4
0.7743
W5 ovarian cancer group
500
9–5887
439.3
12–1655
96.4
4.5–99.7
96.3
1.9–99.8
0.7883
W6 ovarian cancer group
233.3
9.8–7459.1
334.5
22–9264
90.9
6–100
91.6
5.2–99.9
0.9786
W7 ovarian cancer group
839
21–5659
658.4
37–8160
97
25–100
97.2
23.8–99.9
0.7710
W8 ovarian cancer group
777.5
66.9–3724
871.2
85.8–4940
97.7
55.1–100
97.9
55.1–99.9
1.0000
W1 benign group
16
4.1–274.8
41.5
24.2–84.7
6.2
1.56–22.1
6.4
1.56–22.1
0.9420
W2 benign group
28.1
7.7–377
45.5
26.3–80.4
5.4
1.65–20.3
6.2
1.87–22.7
0.0913
W3 benign group
32.3
7.1–191.5
47.3
31.7–86.7
7
2.6–24.1
9.2
3.2–26.2
0.9529
W4 benign group
21.6
5.5–168.8
44.5
17.8–74.2
6
0.7–17.6
8.9
1.15–21.3
0.0079
W5 benign group
12.4
3.2–82.1
48.5
27.5–85.1
6.9
1.8–35.3
8.4
4.4–23.4
0.6641
W6 benign group
15.9
6.7–79.8
63.8
47.1–206.5
14.3
6.7–65.7
14.1
6.6–67.8
0.6232
W7 benign group
9.55
6.3–52.7
69.5
52–186
9.7
7.3–87
9.7
7.6–85.2
1.0000
ROC curve analysis
ROC curves were determined for CA125, HE4, ROMA, and ROMA P in the entire study population, in the premenopausal group, in the postmenopausal group, as well as in the groups of high- and low-stage ovarian tumors (Table 3; Fig. 1). In every case, each of the markers as well as both algorithms met the criteria of good diagnostic tests with AUC values calculated for ROC curves being above 0.5. The modified algorithm ROMA P is significantly better than CA125 in the advanced cancer group (AUC = 0.994 vs. 0.969) and better than HE4 in all cases except for the advanced cancer group. When comparing the standard ROMA algorithm and the modified ROMA P algorithm, superiority of standard algorithm was observed in the group of postmenopausal patients
Table 3
Values and comparisons of ROC-AUC for ROMA, ROMA P, CA125, and HE4 in studied groups
Tumor marker
ROC-AUC (95 % CI)
Comparison of ROC-AUC
ROMA P vs. CA125 p value
ROMA P vs. HE4 p value
ROMA P vs. ROMA p value
All ovarian cancer vs. benign ovarian diseases
ROMA
0.934
0.4222
0.0004
0.1411
ROMA P
0.923
HE4
0.881
CA125
0.910
Advanced ovarian cancers vs. benign ovarian diseases
ROMA
0.995
0.0205
0.0778
0.7725
ROMA P
0.994
HE4
0.982
CA125
0.969
Not-advanced ovarian cancers vs. benign ovarian diseases
ROMA
0.820
0.7623
0.0013
0.1531
ROMA P
0.794
HE4
0.691
CA125
0.808
All ovarian cancers vs. benign ovarian diseases—premenopausal patients
ROMA
0.812
0.3393
0.0242
0.2049
ROMA P
0.829
HE4
0.779
CA125
0.876
All ovarian cancers vs. benign ovarian diseases—postmenopausal patients
ROMA
0.945
0.4277
0.0022
0.0495
ROMA P
0.935
HE4
0.888
CA125
0.947
Fig. 1
ROC curves of the standard ROMA algorithm and the ROMA P (algorithm calculated in the age ranges)
×
ROC curves were also determined within the analyzed age ranges (Table 4). Similarly, also in this case, all analyzed parameters met the criteria of very good diagnostic tests in all age groups. There were no significant differences between the modified algorithm ROMA P and CA125, HE4, and the standard ROMA algorithm. A trend towards higher AUS values and thus towards a better diagnostic value was observed with the increasing patients’ age.
Table 4
Values and comparisons of ROC-AUC for ROMA, ROMA P, CA125, and HE4 in studied interval age
Age interval
Tumor marker
ROC-AUC (95 % CI)
Comparison of ROC-AUC
ROMA P vs. CA125 p value
ROMA P vs. HE4 p value
ROMA P vs. ROMA p value
W2
ROMA
0.755
0.3862
0.7901
0.6745
ROMA P
0.745
HE4
0.739
CA125
0.673
W3
ROMA
0.675
0.0946
0.2646
0.2545
ROMA P
0.703
HE4
0.669
CA125
0.982
W4
ROMA
0.863
0.9539
0.0673
0.6745
ROMA P
0.872
HE4
0.826
CA125
0.868
W5
ROMA
0.955
0.3405
0.0321
0.069
ROMA P
0.926
HE4
0.864
CA125
0.956
W6
ROMA
0.908
0.3528
0.1221
0.1468
ROMA P
0.895
HE4
0.869
CA125
0.923
W7
ROMA
0.96
0.3472
0.3881
1
ROMA P
0.96
HE4
0.93
CA125
0.9
Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV
The cutoff value of modified algorithm ROMA P for the entire study population was calculated from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong method at the levels of 23.5 %. The cutoff value of standard algorithm ROMA was calculated based on the same statistical method at the levels of 14.1 % for the premenopausal and 25% for postmenopausal women. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated on the basis of contingency tables, see Table 5. The difference between the compared algorithms is evident. Marked higher sensitivity and NPV values are observed for the standard ROMA algorithm while higher specificity and PPV values are observed for the modified algorithm ROMA P.
Table 5
Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of ROMA and ROMA P
Ovarian cancer vs. benign ovarian diseases
Sensitivity (%)
Specificity (%)
PPV (%)
NPV(%)
All
PM
M
All
PM
M
All
PM
M
All
PM
M
ROMA
88.1
75.7
91.9
84.9
92.5
89.2
87.6
63.6
96.6
92.4
95.7
76.7
ROMA P
85
64.9
91.1
98
99.1
91.9
96.5
92.3
97.4
84.8
94.2
75.6
Anzeige
Discussion
In 2008, Moore et al. [12] determined that of all known biomarkers within the panel used for diagnosing ovarian cancer, HE4 was characterized by the highest sensitivity and specificity. Numerous studies demonstrated a significant improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of prediction of pathological changes within the adnexes when using CA125 and HE4 together instead of as separate markers [12, 19‐22]. The sensitivity of CA125, when analyzed together with HE4, increases from 43 to 76.4 % [12]. Therefore, in 2009, Moore et al. [23] described the first predictive model for estimation of the risk of malignant epithelial ovarian cancer in women with pathological lesions within the pelvic region. In 2011, on the basis of the research of the same authors [24], the Food and Drug Administration approved the algorithm for clinical use. A continuous increase in the number of published studies on the application of ROMA in clinical practice has been observed ever since [25‐29]. In 2012, during an experts’ meeting in Wiesbaden, the efficacy of ROMA was confirmed. Possibilities for improving the algorithm’s diagnostic abilities were also considered by including additional analysis of patients’ age, smoking status, renal insufficiency-related conditions, or acute cardiac insufficiency-related conditions [17].
It seems the most important factor affecting HE4 levels and thus the ROMA algorithm values is the age of the patients [3‐33]. In the study by Bolstadt et al. [32], conducted in a European population, HE4 level as compared with that in women at the age of 20 was found to be increased by 2 % in women at the age of 30, 9 % in women at the age of 40, 20 % in women at the age of 50, 37 % in women at the age of 60, 63 % in women at the age of 70, and as much as 101 % in women at the age of 80. The authors suggest that HE4 levels should be analyzed in caution in patients after the age of 70. Moore et al. [31] observed the following HE4 level changes correlated with patients’ age: median level was 46.2 pmol/l before the age of 30, 43.5 pmol/L at the age of 30–39, 50.5 pmol/l after the age of 40 and before menopause, 50.7 pmol/l before the age of 60 and after menopause, 59.8 pmol/l at the age of 60–69, 66.9 pmol/l at the age of 70–79, and as much as 113.4 pmol/l after the age of 80. In our study population, HE4 levels were also found to increase with age, albeit to a smaller degree than reported by Bolstad [33] and Moore [31]. In our analysis, the increase in HE4 levels after the age of 60 as compared with the value at the age of below 20 was about 40 %. Of course, this may be due to the differences in analytical tests as Bolstad et al. [33] and Moore et al. [31] used laboratory tests from Fujirebio while our study was conducted using laboratory tests from Roche. ROMA values (modified ROMA values) were calculated using stepwise reduction of coefficients while taking into account the different age groups and differentiation of modification and directional coefficients in the ROMA algorithm calculation formula. AUC values determined for the modified algorithm ROMA P meet the criteria of a very good diagnostic test in every analysis (all ovarian cancer patients: AUC = 0.923; advanced ovarian cancer patients: AUC = 0.994; early-stage ovarian cancer patients: AUC = 0.794; premenopausal women: AUC = 0.829; and postmenopausal women: AUC = 0.935). No significant differences were observed when comparing AUC values between the standard and the modified method of algorithm calculation. However, clinically significant differences were observed when comparing specificity, PPV, and NPV. ROMA algorithm calculated according to the standard formula was characterized by better sensitivity and positive prediction values. However, the age-adjusted algorithm ROMA P proved significantly superior in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive values with only a minor reduction in sensitivity in premenopausal women only. The results in premenopausal women were as follows: sensitivity 64.9 %, specificity 99.1 %, PPV 92.3 %, and NPV 94.2. Results in postmenopausal women were 91.1, 91.9, 97.4, and 75.6 %, respectively. Compared with the results obtained by other authors who analyzed the ROMA algorithm using the standard criteria, the obtained results are very good. In their studies, Moore et al. [24] obtained the sensitivity of 88.1 %, specificity of 74.2 %, PPV of 17.8 %, and NPV of 98.3 NPV in premenopausal women compared with 90.2, 76, 56.1, and 95.8 % in postmenopausal women, respectively. Molina et al. [27] obtained analogous results in premenopausal women: 74.1, 88.9, 44.4, and 96.6 % as well as in postmenopausal women: 95.2, 83.1, 88.9, and 92.5 %.
To date, the only paper that included stratification of patients on the basis of HE4, CA125, and patient age was published several months ago [34]. It relates to a large, multicenter study in which 2665 at 8 centers were analyzed on the basis of the Copenhagen Index (CPH-I). Assuming that the cutoff value for CPH-I is at the level of 0.07, sensitivity and specificity values of 95 and 78.4 % were obtained, respectively.
Conclusion
It appears that further studies on the improvement of diagnostic criteria of CA125- and HE4-based algorithm consisting in elimination of the impact of factors potentially affecting the values of both markers and thus of the algorithm itself, is a legitimate trend. As shown by the results of our analysis, the proposed age-related modification of algorithm calculation does not require the patients being dichotomized according to their pre- or postmenopausal status and satisfactory diagnostic values may be obtained using a single cutoff point for the entire population.
Anzeige
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the staff of the Central Laboratory SPSK No. 2 Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin for carrying out the assays of tumor markers.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflicts of interest
None
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Can ROMA algorithm stratify ovarian tumor patients better when being based on specific age ranges instead of the premenopausal and postmenopausal status?
verfasst von
Anita Chudecka-Głaz Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska Jolanta Jastrzębska Janusz Menkiszak
Seit November 2023 gibt es evidenzbasierte Empfehlungen zum perioperativen Management bei gastrointestinalen Tumoren (POMGAT) auf S3-Niveau. Vieles wird schon entsprechend der Empfehlungen durchgeführt. Wo es im Alltag noch hapert, zeigt eine Umfrage in einem Klinikverbund.
Krebserkrankungen unbekannten Ursprungs (CUP) sind eine diagnostische Herausforderung. KI-Systeme können Pathologen dabei unterstützen, zytologische Bilder zu interpretieren, um den Primärtumor zu lokalisieren.
Patienten, die von Ärztinnen behandelt werden, dürfen offenbar auf bessere Therapieergebnisse hoffen als Patienten von Ärzten. Besonders gilt das offenbar für weibliche Kranke, wie eine Studie zeigt.
Nun gibt es auch Resultate zum Gesamtüberleben: Eine adjuvante Pembrolizumab-Therapie konnte in einer Phase-3-Studie das Leben von Menschen mit Nierenzellkarzinom deutlich verlängern. Die Sterberate war im Vergleich zu Placebo um 38% geringer.
Update Onkologie
Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletterund bleiben Sie gut informiert.
