Early gastric composite tumor comprising signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Composite tumors are neoplasms comprising two distinct, yet intermingling, cell populations. This paper reports a rare phenomenon where early gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma coexist within the same lesion. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old woman presented to the West China Hospital for examination, which revealed a whitish, shallow, and uneven mucosal lesion in the stomach. The lesion was diagnosed as a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, including SRCC with atypical lymphoid hyperplasia associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, based on histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen. The lesion was excised using segmental gastrectomy. However, histological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed that it was a poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma with features of SRCC and MALT lymphoma. These two entities were stage I and coexisted in the same lesion. CONCLUSION: It is uncommon for gastric SRCC and MALT lymphoma to coexist without distinct borders. Surgical resection is effective for these lesions.

Clinical Significance of Talin-1 and HER-2 Status in Different Types of Gastric Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Talin-1 (TLN1) is crucial in cell migration, metastasis, and cancer development. This study evaluated Talin-1 expression and its clinical significance in gastric cancer (GC), along with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) expression and its correlation with Talin-1. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis assessed the potential prognostic value of Talin-1 and HER-2 in GC patients. The study included 223 GC patients (Signet Ring Cells and Intestinal subtypes) and 29 non-malignant tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue microarray slides evaluated Talin-1 and HER-2 expression and clinical significance. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed their diagnostic value. RESULTS: Bioinformatics identified Talin-1 as a potential prognostic factor and HER-2 as an oncogene in GC. Talin-1 and HER-2 expression increased in SRC-type GC samples compared to non-malignant tissues. High cytoplasmic Talin-1 expression inversely correlated with tumor expansion and invasion in SRC-type GC. Increased HER-2 expression positively correlated with metastasis. ROC curves showed significant diagnostic values for both proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Higher cytoplasmic Talin-1 expression is associated with less invasive tumor behavior, while increased membranous HER-2 expression is associated with metastasis in SRC-type GC. These findings suggest potential use in assessing diagnosis and screening high-risk cancer patients, particularly those with SRC-type GC.

Assessing the Value of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT in Gastric Mucinous Adenocarcinoma or Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose To investigate the clinical impact and prognostic value of gallium 68 (68Ga)-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT in gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Materials and Methods Eighty-six participants with newly diagnosed or recurrent gastric MAC or SRCC were prospectively enrolled from April 2021 to October 2021 and underwent both fluorine 18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the two scans in primary and metastatic tumors were evaluated using the McNemar test. Changes of treatment strategies were recorded to compare the treatment management value of the two PET/CT scans. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and peritoneal cancer index (PCI) were recorded for survival analysis. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the time interval from the date of PET/CT scans to the date of disease progression. Results Eighty-six participants (median age, 62 years [IQR, 45-78 years]; 49 female) were evaluated. 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT showed higher diagnostic accuracy in detecting involved lymph nodes (87% [212 of 244] vs 71% [173 of 244], P < .001) and peritoneal metastases (96% [70 of 73] vs 55% [40 of 73], P < .001) than 18F-FDG PET/CT. Twenty-six participants (30% [26 of 86]) had treatment changes due to more accurate diagnosis with 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. Additionally, the 68Ga-FAPI PCI was an independent predictor for PFS (hazard ratio, 6.9; 95% CI: 2.1, 23.1; P = .002). Conclusion 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT had higher accuracy in diagnosis of gastric MAC/SRCC compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT and demonstrated the potential to improve treatment strategies and predict prognosis. Keywords: PET/CT, Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma, Oncology, Abdomen/GI, Molecular Imaging Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.

Gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (GSRCC) is a subtype of gastric cancer with distinct phenotype and high risk of peritoneal metastasis. Studies have shown that early GSRCC has a good prognosis, while advanced GSRCC is insensitive to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immune checkpoint blockade therapy. With technological advancement of single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and cytometry by time of flight mass cytometry, more detailed atlas of tumor microenvironment (TME) in GSRCC and its association with prognosis could be investigated extensively. Recently, two single-cell RNA sequencing studies revealed that GSRCC harbored a unique TME, manifested as highly immunosuppressive, leading to high immune escape. The TME of advanced GSRCC was enriched for immunosuppressive factors, including the loss of CXCL13 +-cluster of differentiation 8+-Tex cells and declined clonal crosstalk among populations of T and B cells. In addition, GSRCC was mainly infiltrated by follicular B cells. The increased proportion of SRCC was accompanied by a decrease in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-derived B cells and a significant increase in follicular B cells, which may be one of the reasons for the poor prognosis of GSRCC. By understanding the relationship between immunosuppressive TME and poor prognosis in GSRCC and the underlying mechanism, more effective immunotherapy strategies and improved treatment outcomes of GSRCC can be anticipated.

Cytologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of histiocytic signet ring cells in effusion specimens.

Objective: Benign histiocytic proliferation in effusion specimens can be found in a variety of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, microorganism infections, trauma, reactive eosinophilic pleuritis, and others. In addition, nodular histiocytic/mesothelial hyperplasia is another well-recognized rare cause. The previous studies have shown that proliferative histiocytes have raisinoid nuclei and abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and can be confused with malignant lesions, especially metastatic carcinomas. In this study, we evaluated the cytomorphology of benign histiocytes, discussed the diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and the clinical significance of histiocytic signet ring cells in effusion cytology. Material and Methods: Seven hundred and fifty-five benign effusion cases (433 pleural effusions and 322 abdominal fluids) were found over 1 year. Among benign cases, 35 cases (28 pleural effusions and seven abdominal fluids) were included with findings of dominantly histiocytic signet ring cell morphology as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) stains. The clinical findings were also correlated. Results: In contrast to the well-documented cytomorphology of raisinoid nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm of proliferative histiocytes in previous studies, we find that these cells predominately presented as signet ring cell morphology with clear cytoplasm. The most characteristic findings of benign histiocytes in pleural effusions are: (1) cells are arranged in sheets and/or scattered individual cells, but no two- or three-dimensional cell clusters; (2) cells are intermediate in size and with normal N/C ratio; (3) cells have eccentric located nuclei and abundant clear cytoplasm, giving signet ring cell appearance; (4) nuclei have fine granular chromatin pattern, no hyperchromia or coarse chromatin pattern, no nuclear atypia; and (5) immunohistochemical (IHC) stains demonstrate a strongly positivity for macrophage-histiocyte lineage marker CD68, but negativity for epithelial markers and mesothelial markers. Clinically, these patients do not demonstrate nodularity or lesions in the mesothelial lining of serous cavities. Conclusion: Our study provides a detailed characterization of benign histiocytic signet ring cells in effusion cytology. The differential diagnosis of histiocytic signet ring cells is broad. The most important differential diagnoses are metastatic adenocarcinoma and epithelioid signet ring cell mesothelioma. The accurate diagnosis is critical for the appropriate clinical management of the patient. Cytopathologists should be aware of the diagnostic pitfalls of benign histiocytic signet ring cells in effusion samples in daily practice.

Primary lung signet-ring cell carcinoma: a national analysis.

Background: Primary lung signet-ring cell carcinoma (LSRCC) is a rare form of aggressive lung cancer whose clinical features remain inadequately discerned. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and independent prognostic factors of primary LSRCC. Methods: Overall survival (OS) of patients with LSRCC, lung adenocarcinoma (LAC), and lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (LMAC) in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2018 was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. Independent prognostic indicators for patients with LSRCC were determined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: A total of 1,705 LSRCC, 504,006 LAC, and 15,883 LMAC patients were included in our analysis. LSRCC histology was significantly associated with younger age, male sex, larger and more poorly differentiated tumors, later American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage disease, higher clinical T, N, and M status, more use of chemotherapy, and less use of surgery when compared to LAC and LMAC patients. In unadjusted analysis, patients with LSRCC had significantly worse OS when compared to patients with LAC and LMAC. In multivariable analysis, patients with LSRCC experienced significantly worse OS when compared to only patients with LAC. Independent predictors of survival for patients with LSRCC were younger age, later year of diagnosis, lower Charlson/Deyo comorbidity condition scores, lower AJCC stage, higher income, smaller tumors, treatment with surgery, and receipt of chemotherapy. Conclusions: In this national analysis, LSRCC was found to be associated with distinct clinicopathological characteristics from those of LAC.

Secondary rectal linitis plastica caused by prostatic adenocarcinoma - magnetic resonance imaging findings and dissemination pathways: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Secondary rectal linitis plastica (RLP) from prostatic adenocarcinoma is a rare and poorly understood form of metastatic spread, characterized by a desmoplastic response and concentric rectal wall infiltration with mucosal preservation. This complicates endoscopic diagnosis and can mimic gastrointestinal malignancies. This case series underscores the critical role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying the distinct imaging features of RLP and highlights the importance of considering this condition in the differential diagnosis of patients with a history of prostate cancer. CASE SUMMARY: Three patients with secondary RLP due to prostatic adenocarcinoma presented with varied clinical features. The first patient, a 76-year-old man with advanced prostate cancer, had rectal pain and incontinence. MRI showed diffuse prostatic invasion and significant rectal wall thickening with a characteristic "target sign" pattern. The second, a 57-year-old asymptomatic man with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels and a history of prostate cancer exhibited rectoprostatic angle involvement and rectal wall thickening on MRI, with positron emission tomography/computed tomography PSMA confirming the prostatic origin of the metastatic spread. The third patient, an 80-year-old post-radical prostatectomy, presented with refractory constipation. MRI revealed a neoplastic mass infiltrating the rectal wall. In all cases, MRI consistently showed stratified thickening, concentric signal changes, restricted diffusion, and contrast enhancement, which were essential for diagnosing secondary RLP. Biopsies confirmed the prostatic origin of the neoplastic involvement in the rectum. CONCLUSION: Recognizing MRI findings of secondary RLP is essential for accurate diagnosis and management in prostate cancer patients.

A rare case of primary signet-ring adenocarcinoma of anorectal region in a young patient: Diagnostic challenges and therapeutic outcomes.

Key Clinical Message: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the anal canal and rectum is an extremely rare and aggressive malignancy. The present case underscores the importance of considering primary signet-ring cell carcinoma in differential diagnoses for young patients with chronic anorectal symptoms. It highlights the need for a multidisciplinary treatment approach (including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) and comprehensive follow-up for managing this challenging condition and improving long-term patient outcomes. Abstract: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the anal canal and rectum is an exceedingly rare subtype of colorectal adenocarcinoma, often originating as an extension of rectal adenocarcinoma. This malignancy constitutes a small fraction of colorectal cancers and is scarcely reported in medical literature. We present the case of an 18-year-old male with a three-year history of progressively worsening hematochezia, anorectal pain, and defecation-associated prolapse. Initial conservative treatments failed, leading to further investigations that revealed a palpable, nodular anorectal mass. Imaging studies (including CT and MRI), and biopsy confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell morphology. The tumor exhibited extensive lymphovascular invasion and involved perirectal lymph nodes, and was staged as pT3, N2a. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CK 7, CK 20, and SATB2, supporting the primary anorectal origin. The treatment regimen included initial diversion colostomies for symptom relief, followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) regimen and concurrent chemoradiation with Xeloda. The patient subsequently underwent an abdominoperineal resection (APR), which confirmed the diagnosis and achieved curative resection. Postoperative complications included transient ileus and wound infection, which were managed with supportive care. This case underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the anorectal region, highlighting the need for a high index of suspicion and comprehensive diagnostic workup in atypical presentations. The multimodal treatment approach, incorporating surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, was crucial in managing this locally advanced tumor. The rarity and aggressiveness of this carcinoma necessitate a tailored treatment strategy to improve patient outcomes. Long-term follow-up, including regular imaging and surveillance, is vital for monitoring disease recurrence and evaluating treatment effectiveness.

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder ‒ A rare bladder tumor.

AIM: Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) of the bladder accounts for only 1%‒4% of all bladder malignancies. To date, few studies have been conducted to investigate the characteristics of SRCC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and treatments of SRCC and explore the independent risk factors of survival in SRCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 32 eligible patients. The survival rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the COX proportional hazards model was used to investigate the independent risk factors of prognosis. RESULTS: In the present study, the 1-year and 2-year survival rates of SRCC patients were 53.1% and 9.4%, respectively. The TNM stage, tumor differentiation, and metastasis after treatment were risk factors for the prognosis of SRCC patients (p < 0.05), while surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and positive GATA3 expression were protective for prognosis (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that GATA3 was an independent protective factor for prognosis (p < 0.05), and T-stage was an independent risk factor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Primary SRCC of the bladder is highly malignant and has a poor prognosis. Its clinical and imaging findings are usually non-specific. Early radical cystectomy and postoperative adjuvant systemic chemotherapy are helpful to improve the survival rate. T-stage is an independent risk factor for survival, and positive GATA3 expression is protective for primary SRCC of the bladder.

Disappearing Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diffuse-type gastric cancer is increasing steadily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. This subtype is known for aggressive clinical characteristics and transmural invasion. However, T1a diffuse-type cancers have been observed to have a better 5-year, disease-specific mortality than stage-matched intestinal tumors, supporting a clinical difference in these early-stage cancers. METHODS: Data on all living patients with T1a gastric adenocarcinoma with a finding of signet ring cell morphology on pathology and ≥1 year of follow-up from 2013 to 2023 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) was collected from a prospectively maintained database. Patients with known CDH1 or CTNNA1 mutations were excluded. RESULTS: In 7 of 30 patients, sporadic pathologically confirmed T1a signet ring cell (diffuse) cancer identified on initial biopsy was no longer detectable upon subsequent biopsy or resection with mean follow-up of 50 months. CONCLUSIONS: These cases allude to the distinct pathways of carcinogenesis in T1a signet ring cell cancers. Potential factors that may underlie the spontaneous regression of these T1a cancers include complete removal at initial biopsy, immune clearance, and lack of survival advantage conferred by signet ring cell genetic alterations in these cases. Given their more indolent behavior at an earlier stage, we suggest that these lesions can be closely followed by endoscopy in select circumstances with thorough disease assessment and an experienced care team.

Unmasking the silent killer: The hidden aggressiveness of signet-ring cell carcinoma in gallbladder cancer.

The prognostic significance of the signet-ring cell component in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) has not been systematically evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the similarities and differences between gallbladder signet-ring cell carcinoma (GBSRCA) and gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBAC) in terms of clinicopathological features and long-term survival. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we analyzed 6,612 patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer between 2000 and 2021. The cohort included 147 patients with GBSRCA and 6,465 with GBAC. Patients with GBSRCA were significantly younger, with 33.3% being age 60 or younger compared to 23.9% of patients with GBAC (p = 0.009). There was a higher proportion of females in the GBSRCA group (77.6%) compared to the GBAC group (70.1%, p = 0.049). GBSRCA was associated with a more advanced tumor stage (T3-T4: 56.5% vs. 44.4%, P = 0.004), higher rates of lymph node metastasis (43.5% vs. 28.0%, P < 0.001), and poorer differentiation status (poorly to undifferentiated: 80.3% vs. 29.7%, P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that patients with GBSRCA had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to patients with GBAC (p < 0.001). GBSRCA was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.001) in the entire cohort, while the T stage and N stage were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS in patients with GBSRCA. Even after propensity score matching, patients with GBSRCA still had a poorer prognosis.

The "Forgotten" Subtypes of Breast Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of Selected Histological Variants Not Included or Not Recognized as Distinct Entities in the Current World Health Organization Classification of Breast Tumors.

Breast carcinoma is the most common cancer in women. Nineteen different subtypes of breast carcinomas are recognized in the current WHO classification of breast tumors. Except for these subtypes, there are a number of carcinomas with special morphologic and immunohistochemical features that are not included in the 5th WHO classification, while others are considered special morphologic patterns of invasive breast carcinoma of no special type. In this manuscript, we systematically review the literature on four different subtypes of invasive breast carcinoma, namely lymphoepithelioma-like breast carcinoma, breast carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells, signet-ring breast carcinoma, and metaplastic breast carcinoma with melanocytic differentiation. We describe their clinicopathological characteristics, focusing on the differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Treatment Options for Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the urinary bladder is a rare and highly aggressive form of bladder cancer, with no widely agreed-upon treatment strategy. The aim of this study was to identify important factors influencing patient prognosis and to assess how various treatment approaches affect survival outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, including patients with bladder primary SRCC who were presented between 2000 and 2017. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to examine the impact of various factors on cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were applied to homogenize both groups. The impact of different treatment regimens on patient CSS and OS was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 33 cases of non-muscular invasive SRCC and 210 cases of muscular invasive SRCC were included in this study. Multivariate analysis identified race, TNM stage, and surgical method as independent variables influencing both OS and CSS. In non-muscle invasive bladder SRCC patients, radical cystectomy showed no CSS benefit compared to transurethral resection of bladder tumors (P = 0.304). For muscle invasive SRCC, patients who underwent partial cystectomy had better OS and CSS compared to those who underwent radical cystectomy (P = 0.019, P = 0.024). However, after conducting a PSM analysis, the differences between the two surgical outcomes were not statistically significant (P = 0.504, P = 0.335). Lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation did not show any benefit to the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSION: This study identified race, TNM stage, and surgical approach as significant independent predictors for SRCC outcomes. Simple radical cystectomy and partial cystectomy proved to be effective treatments for SRCC. The optimal treatment option still needs to be supported by a number of prospective research trials.

Gastroesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma morbidity and mortality: A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) signet ring cell carcinomas (SRCC) confer a poor prognosis. The benefit of operative intervention for this patient group is controversial in terms of overall survival. AIM: To investigate factors relating to survival in patients with upper GI SRCC. METHODS: A retrospective, tertiary, single-centre review of patients who were diagnosed with oesophageal, gastroesophageal junction and gastric SRCC was performed. The primary outcome was to compare mortality of patients who underwent operative management with those who had nonoperative management. Secondary outcomes included assessing the relationship between demographic and histopathological factors, and survival. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients were included. The one-year survival for the operative group was 81% and for the nonoperative group was 19.1%. The five-year survival in the operative group was 28.6% vs 1.5% in the nonoperative group. The difference in overall survival between groups was statistically significant (HR 0.19, 95%CI (0.13-0.30), P < 0.001). There was no difference in survival when adjusting for age, smoking status or gender. On multivariate analysis, patients who underwent surgical management, those with a lower stage of disease, and those with a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) had significantly improved survival. CONCLUSION: Well-selected patients with upper GI SRCC appear to have reasonable medium-term survival following surgery. Offering surgery to a carefully selected patient group may improve the outcome for this disease.

Epidemiology and prognostic nomogram for locally advanced gastric signet ring cell carcinoma: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) represents a specific subtype of gastric cancer renowned for its contentious epidemiological features, treatment principles, and prognostic factors. AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of GSRC and establish an improved model for predicting the prognosis of patients with locally advanced GSRC (LAGSRC) after surgery. METHODS: The annual rates of GSRC incidence and mortality, covering the years 1975 to 2019, were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to explore the temporal trends in both disease incidence and mortality rates using Joinpoint software. The clinical data of 3793 postoperative LAGSRC patients were collected from the SEER database for the analysis of survival rates. The Cox regression model was used to explore the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). The risk factors extracted were used to establish a prognostic nomogram. RESULTS: The overall incidence of GSRC increased dramatically between 1975 and 1998, followed by a significant downward trend in incidence after 1998. In recent years, there has been a similarly optimistic trend in GSRC mortality rates. The trend in GSRC showed discrepancies based on age and sex. Receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS demonstrated the high discriminative ability and clinical utility of this nomogram. The area under the curve indicated that the performance of the new model outperformed that of the pathological staging system. CONCLUSION: The model we established can aid clinicians in the early prognostication of LAGSRC patients, resulting in improved clinical outcomes by modifying management strategies and patient health care.

A prognostic framework for predicting lung signet ring cell carcinoma via a machine learning based cox proportional hazard model.

PURPOSE: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare type of lung cancer. The conventional survival nomogram used to predict lung cancer performs poorly for SRCC. Therefore, a novel nomogram specifically for studying SRCC is highly required. METHODS: Baseline characteristics of lung signet ring cell carcinoma were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression and random forest analysis were performed on the training group data, respectively. Subsequently, we compared results from these two types of analyses. A nomogram model was developed to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival (OS) for patients, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to assess the prediction accuracy. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical applicability of the proposed model. For treatment modalities, Kaplan-Meier curves were adopted to analyze condition-specific effects. RESULTS: We obtained 731 patients diagnosed with lung signet ring cell carcinoma (LSRCC) in the SEER database and randomized the patients into a training group (551) and a validation group (220) with a ratio of 7:3. Eight factors including age, primary site, T, N, and M.Stage, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation were included in the nomogram analysis. Results suggested that treatment methods (like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) and T-Stage factors had significant prognostic effects. The results of ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA in the training and validation groups demonstrated that the nomogram we constructed could precisely predict survival and prognosis in LSRCC patients. Through deep verification, we found the constructed model had a high C-index, indicating that the model had a strong predictive power. Further, we found that all surgical interventions had good effects on OS and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The survival curves showed a relatively favorable prognosis for T0 patients overall, regardless of the treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS: Our nomogram is demonstrated to be clinically beneficial for the prognosis of LSRCC patients. The surgical intervention was successful regardless of the tumor stage, and the Cox proportional hazard (CPH) model had better performance than the machine learning model in terms of effectiveness.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly impacts the treatment and prognosis of early gastric cancer (EGC). Consequently, the precise prediction of LNM risk in EGC patients is essential to guide the selection of appropriate surgical approaches in clinical settings. AIM: To develop a novel nomogram risk model for predicting LNM in EGC patients, utilizing preoperative clinicopathological data. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the correlation between clinicopathological factors and LNM in EGC patients. Additionally, univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the influence of clinical factors on EGC prognosis. A predictive model in the form of a nomogram was developed, and its discrimination ability and calibration were also assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of LNM in the study cohort was 19.6%. Multivariate logistic regression identified tumor size, location, degree of differentiation, and pathological type as independent risk factors for LNM in EGC patients. Both tumor pathological type and LNM independently affected the prognosis of EGC. The model's performance was reflected by an area under the curve of 0.750 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.701-0.789] for the training group and 0.763 (95%CI: 0.687-0.838) for the validation group. CONCLUSION: A clinical prediction model was constructed (using tumor size, low differentiation, location in the middle-lower region, and signet ring cell carcinoma), with its score being a significant prognosis indicator.

Is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery the appropriate treatment for esophagogastric signet ring cell carcinomas? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCTX) on survival and tumor response in patients with esophagogastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is still controversial. Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a systematic literature search in Medline, CENTRAL, and Web of Science including prospective and retrospective two-arm non-randomized and randomized controlled studies (RCTs). Data was extracted on overall survival (OS) and tumor regression in resected esophagogastric SRCC patients with or without nCTX. Survival data was analyzed using published hazard ratios (HR) if available or determined it from other survival data or survival curves. OS and histopathological response rates by type of tumor (SRCC vs. non-SRCC) were also investigated. Results: Out of 559 studies, ten (1 RCT, 9 non-RCTs) were included in this meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42022298743) investigating 3,653 patients in total. The four studies investigating survival in SRCC patients treated with nCTX + surgery vs. surgery alone showed no survival benefit for neither intervention, but heterogeneity was considerable (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.61-1.67; p = 0.98; I2 = 89%). In patients treated by nCTX + surgery SRCC patients showed worse survival (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.21-1.74; p < 0.01) and lower rate of major histopathological response than non-SRCC patients (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.78-3.44; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis could not demonstrate beneficial effects of nCTX for SRCC patients. Histopathological response to and survival benefits of non-taxane-based nCTX seem to be lower in comparison to non-SRC esophagogastric cancer. However, certainty of evidence is low due to the scarcity of high-quality trials. Further research is necessary to determine optimal treatment for SRCC patients. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, PROSPERO (CRD42022298743).