Preliminary study on the prognostic value of baseline CT in patients with metastatic far-advanced gastric cancer / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the prognosis value of baseline contrast-enhanced CT in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for clinically diagnosed as metastatic far-advanced gastric cancer patients.Methods:Between January 2019 and May 2020, 85 pathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma patients with peritoneal or hepatic metastasis at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital with complete preoperative clinical, image and follow-up data were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical factors included performance status (PS) score, tumor location, and tumor serological indicators. Imaging factors included the longest diameter and maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor, CT value, enhancement uniformity, CT extramural venous invasion (ctEMVI), the largest short diameter of the metastatic lymph nodes, confluent lymph nodes, lymph nodes necrosis, fused bulk lymph nodes, the maximum cross-sectional area and CT value of the liver metastases, peritoneal metastasis score, longest diameter of nodules with peritoneal metastasis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to analyze the prognostic differences between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for PFS and OS.Results:There were significant differences in the maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor, non-contrast CT value, delayed-phase CT value, and delayed-phase CT ratio value between the high- and low-risk groups in PFS ( P<0.05). There were significant differences between the high- and low-risk groups with the maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor in PFS and OS ( P<0.05). In the univariate analysis, the maximum cross-sectional area of tumor, plain-scan CT value, delayed-phase CT value, delayed-phase CT ratio value and the largest short diameter of metastatic lymph nodes were risk factors for PFS ( P<0.05). PS score, CA724, maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor, maximum cross-sectional area of liver metastases, and peritoneal metastasis score were shown as risk factors for OS ( P<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the maximum cross-sectional area of the tumor and non-contrast CT value were independent risk factors for PFS (HR=0.41, 2.50, P<0.05, 0.006). PS score, CA724 and peritoneal metastasis score were independent risk factors for OS (HR=46.78, 6.26, 92.92, P=0.026, 0.009, 0.007). Conclusions:Tumor size, CT attenuations, and peritoneal metastasis score on baseline CT can be used as independent risk factors for survival in patients with far-advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal or hepatic metastasis. Baseline CT is potentially useful in prediction of the survival status for patients with metastatic far-advanced gastric cancer.