The principal breast cancer treatment approach has long been surgical removal of the primary breast lesions and regional lymph nodes,particularly the axillary lymph nodes.However,the advent of minimally invasive diagn...The principal breast cancer treatment approach has long been surgical removal of the primary breast lesions and regional lymph nodes,particularly the axillary lymph nodes.However,the advent of minimally invasive diagnostic techniques,such as sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB),has markedly diminished the extent of surgery required for regional lymph nodes.展开更多
BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning ofte...BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning often fail to capture the sparse and diagnostically critical features of metastatic potential.AIM To develop and validate a case-level multiple-instance learning(MIL)framework mimicking a pathologist's comprehensive review and improve T3/T4 CRC LNM prediction.METHODS The whole-slide images of 130 patients with T3/T4 CRC were retrospectively collected.A case-level MIL framework utilising the CONCH v1.5 and UNI2-h deep learning models was trained on features from all haematoxylin and eosinstained primary tumour slides for each patient.These pathological features were subsequently integrated with clinical data,and model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS The case-level framework demonstrated superior LNM prediction over slide-level training,with the CONCH v1.5 model achieving a mean AUC(±SD)of 0.899±0.033 vs 0.814±0.083,respectively.Integrating pathology features with clinical data further enhanced performance,yielding a top model with a mean AUC of 0.904±0.047,in sharp contrast to a clinical-only model(mean AUC 0.584±0.084).Crucially,a pathologist’s review confirmed that the model-identified high-attention regions correspond to known high-risk histopathological features.CONCLUSION A case-level MIL framework provides a superior approach for predicting LNM in advanced CRC.This method shows promise for risk stratification and therapy decisions,requiring further validation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector compu...BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.展开更多
BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive ...BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive lymph node ratio(LNR)and log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS)were introduced.AIM To assess the prognostic accuracy and stratification efficacy of three nodal staging systems in GC.METHODS A systematic review identified 12 studies,from which hazard ratios(HRs)for overall survival(OS)were summarized.Sensitivity analyses,subgroup analyses,publication bias assessments,and quality evaluations were conducted.To enhance comparability,data from studies with identical cutoff values for pN,LNR,and LODDS were pooled.Homogeneous stratification was then applied to generate Kaplan-Meier(KM)survival curves,assessing the stratification efficacy of three staging systems.RESULTS The HRs and 95%confidence intervals for pN,LNR,and LODDS were 2.16(1.72-2.73),2.05(1.65-2.55),and 3.15(2.15-4.37),respectively,confirming all three as independent prognostic risk factors for OS.Comparative analysis of HRs demonstrated that LODDS had superior prognostic predictive power over LNR and pN.KM curves for pN(N0,N1,N2,N3a,N3b),LNR(0.1/0.2/0.5),and LODDS(-1.5/-1.0/-0.5/0)revealed significant differences(P<0.001)among all prognostic stratifications.Mean differences and standard deviations in 60-month relative survival were 27.93%±0.29%,41.70%±0.30%,and 26.60%±0.28%for pN,LNR,and LODDS,respectively.CONCLUSION All three staging systems are independent prognostic factors for OS.LODDS demonstrated the highest specificity,making it especially useful for predicting outcomes,while pN was the most effective in homogeneous stratification,offering better patient differentiation.These findings highlight the complementary roles of LODDS and pN in enhancing prognostic accuracy and stratification.展开更多
Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposi...Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposits detectable radiologically or pathologically,has received little attention in staging.Recent data from a study by Cui et al demonstrated that SLNM is an independent predictor of very poor survival in GC.Through robust data and rigorous propensitymatched analyses,SLNM emerged not merely as an anatomical finding but as an independent predictor of poor prognosis,even among patients undergoing curative resection.As precision oncology advances,the findings by Cui et al urge a fundamental rethinking of how SLNM is incorporated into clinical decisionmaking for GC management.In this editorial,we critically examine the prognostic significance of SLNM,challenge its omission from traditional staging frameworks,and advocate for its formal integration into preoperative risk stratification and treatment planning.Recognizing SLNM at diagnosis could unlock intensified neoadjuvant therapy strategies and optimize outcomes for a historically high-risk patient subgroup.展开更多
Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biop...Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biopsy(SNB)before surgery was proposed to detect LNMs in PCa patients.However,its diagnostic performance still remains controversial.This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa.Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis has been reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database,and the register number is CRD42023421911.Four bibliographic databases were searched,i.e.,PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science,to retrieve articles studying the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa from the inception to Sep 9,2023.We calculated the pooled sensitivity,specificity,likelihood ratios,diagnostic odds ratios and their 95%confidence intervals(CIs).Subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were also conducted.Results A total of 17 articles from databases are enrolled in this study.Using lymph node-based data,our results showed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG alone in PCa were 71%(95%CI 52%–85%)and 68%(95%CI 64%–72%),respectively.The pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG-technetium-99m-nanocolloid in PCa were 49%(95%CI 39%–59%)and 69%(95%CI 67%–71%),respectively.展开更多
The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths...The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths and limitations of this paper.The study’s methodology seems appropriate and proper statistical analyses were applied to identify significant variables.The authors applied the Cox regression model to identify independent risk factors and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to assess prognosis.The researchers found notable differences in cli-nicopathologic variables between patients with upper and lower GC.Addi-tionally,they identified specific LN stations more prone to metastasis in different Siewert classifications of GC.Despite the study’s detailed analysis,it would have been beneficial to explore whether there were survival differences among upper GC patients based on the Siewert classification.Furthermore,the study should have addressed potential confounding factors that might have influenced the results.A more comprehensive analysis could have been achieved by comparing survival outcomes based on LN metastasis patterns.Overall,this article is relevant and provides valuable insights into the significance of LN metastasis patterns in upper GC patients.展开更多
Background:Metastasis to the infraclavicular and supraclavicular lymph nodes(ISLNs)is an important factor that predicts poor survival in patients with breast cancer;however,pathological nodal staging does not traditio...Background:Metastasis to the infraclavicular and supraclavicular lymph nodes(ISLNs)is an important factor that predicts poor survival in patients with breast cancer;however,pathological nodal staging does not traditionally include ISLNs because of their non-routine surgical dissection.This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of ISLN metastasis and propose a refined nodal staging system tailored for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 1,072 patients with breast cancer with or without ISLN metastasis who received NAC at two institutions(Fujian cohort and Hebei cohort)from 2010 to 2022.We conducted detailed survival analysis to evaluate the diagnostic consistency and prognostic significance of ISLNs.Results:There were no survival differences among patients with ISLN involvement across different assay method-ologies and patient cohorts.Among 887 patients in the Fujian cohort,238 patients(26.8%)with positive ISLNs had significantly inferior 3-year progression-free survival(PFS,75.9%vs.90.4%,P<0.001)and overall survival(OS,90.6%vs.95.9%,P<0.001).After adjusting for potential confounders,ISLN involvement persisted as an independent predictor of both PFS and OS.We propose a refined axillary classification that combines pathologi-cal axillary staging post-NAC with ISLN involvement,revealing 3-year PFS rates of 95.3%,87.6%,73.4%,and 64.5%for the respective four groups defined by this refined classification combining axillary stage and ISLN status.Conclusions:Involvement of the ISLNs was associated with a worse prognosis,underscoring their prognostic value.This finding highlights the potential of ISLN status to influence decisions regarding adjuvant treatment in patients with breast cancer.展开更多
Introduction The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)after neoadjuvant therapy(NAT)has been confirmed in clinical nodal stage 1(c N1)patients,and more patients could benefit from axillary surgery de-escalation...Introduction The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)after neoadjuvant therapy(NAT)has been confirmed in clinical nodal stage 1(c N1)patients,and more patients could benefit from axillary surgery de-escalation after NAT(1,2).展开更多
BACKGROUND： The prognostic factors related to lymph node involvement [lymph node status, the number of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio （LNR）] and the number of nodes evaluated in patients with pancreatic ade...BACKGROUND： The prognostic factors related to lymph node involvement [lymph node status, the number of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio （LNR）] and the number of nodes evaluated in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy are poorly defined. METHODS： A total of 167 patients who had undergone resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma from February 2010 to August 2011 were included in this study. Histological examination was performed to evaluate the tumor differentiation and lymph node involvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made to determine the relationship between the variables related to nodal involvement and the number of nodes and survival. RESULTS： The median number of total nodes examined was 10 （range 0-44） for the entire cohort. The median number of total nodes examined in node-negative （pN0） patients was similar to that in node-positive （pN1） patients. Patients with pN1 diseases had significantly worse survival than those with pN0 ones （P=0.000）. Patients with three or more positive nodes had a poorer prognosis compared with those with the negative nodes （P=0.000）. The prognosis of the patients with negative nodes was similar to that of those with one to two positive nodes （P=0.114）. The median survival of patients with an LNR ≥0.4 was shorter than that of patients with an LNR 〈0.4 in the pN1 cohort （P=0.014）. No significance was found between the number of total nodes examined and the prognosis, regardless of the cutoff of 10 or 12 and in the entire cohort or the pN0 and pN1 groups. Based on the multivariate analysis of the entire cohort and the pN1 group, the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR were all associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS： In addition to the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR can serve as comprehensive factors for the evaluation of nodal involvement. This approach may be more effective for predicting the survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy.展开更多
BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors...BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.展开更多
Identifying key nodes in complex networks is crucial for understanding and controlling their dynamics. Traditional centrality measures often fall short in capturing the multifaceted roles of nodes within these network...Identifying key nodes in complex networks is crucial for understanding and controlling their dynamics. Traditional centrality measures often fall short in capturing the multifaceted roles of nodes within these networks. The Page Rank algorithm, widely recognized for ranking web pages, offers a more nuanced approach by considering the importance of connected nodes. However, existing methods generally overlook the geometric properties of networks, which can provide additional insights into their structure and functionality. In this paper, we propose a novel method named Curv-Page Rank(C-PR), which integrates network curvature and Page Rank to identify influential nodes in complex networks. By leveraging the geometric insights provided by curvature alongside structural properties, C-PR offers a more comprehensive measure of a node's influence. Our approach is particularly effective in networks with community structures, where it excels at pinpointing bridge nodes critical for maintaining connectivity and facilitating information flow. We validate the effectiveness of C-PR through extensive experiments. The results demonstrate that C-PR outperforms traditional centrality-based and Page Rank methods in identifying critical nodes. Our findings offer fresh insights into the structural importance of nodes across diverse network configurations, highlighting the potential of incorporating geometric properties into network analysis.展开更多
Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surge...Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surgery.This study aimed to develop and validate a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics and deep learning(DL)fusion model for predicting non-invasive OLNM.Methods:Patients with radiologically node-negative lung adenocarcinoma from two centers were retrospectively analyzed.We developed clinical,radiomics,and radiomics-clinical models using logistic regression.A DL model was established using a three-dimensional squeeze-and-excitation residual network-34(3D SE-ResNet34)and a fusion model was created by integrating seleted clinical,radiomics features and DL features.Model performance was assessed using the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Five predictive models were compared;SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping(Grad-CAM)were employed for visualization and interpretation.Results:Overall,358 patients were included:186 in the training cohort,48 in the internal validation cohort,and 124 in the external testing cohort.The DL fusion model incorporating 3D SE-Resnet34 achieved the highest AUC of 0.947 in the training dataset,with strong performance in internal and external cohorts(AUCs of 0.903 and 0.907,respectively),outperforming single-modal DL models,clinical models,radiomics models,and radiomicsclinical combined models(DeLong test:P<0.05).DCA confirmed its clinical utility,and calibration curves demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and observed OLNM probabilities.Features interpretation highlighted the importance of textural characteristics and the surrounding tumor regions in stratifying OLNM risk.Conclusions:The DL fusion model reliably and accurately predicts OLNM in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma,offering a non-invasive tool to refine staging and guide personalized treatment decisions.These results may aid clinicians in optimizing surgical and radiotherapy strategies.展开更多
Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly und...Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly understood.This editorial highlights several key prognostic factors,including pathological staging and vascular invasion,that impact GC.It examines a recent study’s investigation of differential metastatic lymph nodes distribution and survival in upper and lower GC sub-types,focusing on histological characterization,pathophysiology,usage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and additional predictive determinants.We assess the statistical robustness and clinical applicability of the findings,un-derscoring the importance of treating GC as a heterogeneous disease and em-phasizing how tailored surgical approaches informed by lymph node distribution can optimize tumor detection while minimizing unnecessary interventions.The study’s large cohort,multi-center design,and strict inclusion criteria strengthen its validity in guiding surgical planning and risk-stratification.However,inte-grating genetic and molecular data is critical for refining models and broadening applicability.Additionally,recurrence-metrics and infection-related factors,such as Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus,absent in the original study,remain vital for directing future research.By bridging metastatic patterns with pros-pective methodologies and inclusion of diverse populations,this editorial pro-vides a framework for advancing early detection and personalized GC care.展开更多
Major consideration dimensions for the physical layer design of wireless sensor network （WSN） nodes is analyzed by comparing different wireless communication approaches, diverse mature standards, important radio fre...Major consideration dimensions for the physical layer design of wireless sensor network （WSN） nodes is analyzed by comparing different wireless communication approaches, diverse mature standards, important radio frequency （RF） parameters and various microcontroller unit （MCU） solutions. An implementation of the WSN node is presented with experimental results and a novel ＂one processor working at two frequencies＂ energy saving strategy. The lifetime estimation issue is analyzed with consideration to the periodical listen required by common WSN media access control （MAC） algorithms. It can be concluded that the startup time of the RF which determines the best sleep time ratio and the shortest backoff slot time of MAC, the RF frequency and modulation methods which determinate the RX and TX current, and the overall energy consumption of the dual frequency MCU SOC （ system on chip） are the most essential factors for the WSN node physical layer design.展开更多
Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy remains a cornerstone in the management of breast cancer, as it provides an accurate staging of the disease while minimizing the morbidity associated with complete axillary...Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy remains a cornerstone in the management of breast cancer, as it provides an accurate staging of the disease while minimizing the morbidity associated with complete axillary lymph node dissection. Advances in SLN detection have been very important in refining surgical techniques and improving patient outcomes. The purpose of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of radiocolloids, blue dyes, and fluorescent tracers in detecting the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Specifically, we analyzed the detection rate, accuracy, and safety profile of the techniques to outline the most reliable and clinically available. A comprehensive review was conducted, searching key databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for studies published between 2010 and 2024. The review focused on studies that compared the performance of radiocolloids, blue dyes, and fluorescent tracers in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. A total of 54 studies were included based on specific inclusion criteria. Results: Radiocolloids showed high detection rates in studies. Blue dyes have comparable results, but a small percentage of allergic reactions has been observed. Fluorescent tracers such as indocyanine green have improved visualization and accuracy, but their use requires specialized equipment and expertise. Combining radiocolloids with blue dyes or fluorescent tracers has improved detection rates in several studies. Cost and accessibility challenges have also been pointed out, particularly in low-resource settings. Conclusions: Radiocolloids have attained the status of gold standard in the detection of SLNs in breast cancer for their reliability and accuracy. While combined use with other tracers, like blue dyes or fluorescent agents, enhances overall detection performance, making it more holistic. As expected, further innovation and effort are required to improve accessibility and optimize the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy worldwide.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81672638 and W2421095)National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2024LMB011)Collaborative Academic Innovation Project of Shandong Cancer Hospital(Grant No.GF003)。
文摘The principal breast cancer treatment approach has long been surgical removal of the primary breast lesions and regional lymph nodes,particularly the axillary lymph nodes.However,the advent of minimally invasive diagnostic techniques,such as sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB),has markedly diminished the extent of surgery required for regional lymph nodes.
基金Supported by Chongqing Medical Scientific Research Project(Joint Project of Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau),No.2023MSXM060.
文摘BACKGROUND The accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis(LNM)is crucial for managing locally advanced(T3/T4)colorectal cancer(CRC).However,both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning often fail to capture the sparse and diagnostically critical features of metastatic potential.AIM To develop and validate a case-level multiple-instance learning(MIL)framework mimicking a pathologist's comprehensive review and improve T3/T4 CRC LNM prediction.METHODS The whole-slide images of 130 patients with T3/T4 CRC were retrospectively collected.A case-level MIL framework utilising the CONCH v1.5 and UNI2-h deep learning models was trained on features from all haematoxylin and eosinstained primary tumour slides for each patient.These pathological features were subsequently integrated with clinical data,and model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS The case-level framework demonstrated superior LNM prediction over slide-level training,with the CONCH v1.5 model achieving a mean AUC(±SD)of 0.899±0.033 vs 0.814±0.083,respectively.Integrating pathology features with clinical data further enhanced performance,yielding a top model with a mean AUC of 0.904±0.047,in sharp contrast to a clinical-only model(mean AUC 0.584±0.084).Crucially,a pathologist’s review confirmed that the model-identified high-attention regions correspond to known high-risk histopathological features.CONCLUSION A case-level MIL framework provides a superior approach for predicting LNM in advanced CRC.This method shows promise for risk stratification and therapy decisions,requiring further validation.
文摘BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.
基金the Clinical Medical Team Introduction Program of Suzhou,No.SZYJTD201804.
文摘BACKGROUND Lymph node status is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer(GC),but stage migration may occur in pathological lymph nodes(pN)staging.To address this,alternative staging systems such as the positive lymph node ratio(LNR)and log odds of positive lymph nodes(LODDS)were introduced.AIM To assess the prognostic accuracy and stratification efficacy of three nodal staging systems in GC.METHODS A systematic review identified 12 studies,from which hazard ratios(HRs)for overall survival(OS)were summarized.Sensitivity analyses,subgroup analyses,publication bias assessments,and quality evaluations were conducted.To enhance comparability,data from studies with identical cutoff values for pN,LNR,and LODDS were pooled.Homogeneous stratification was then applied to generate Kaplan-Meier(KM)survival curves,assessing the stratification efficacy of three staging systems.RESULTS The HRs and 95%confidence intervals for pN,LNR,and LODDS were 2.16(1.72-2.73),2.05(1.65-2.55),and 3.15(2.15-4.37),respectively,confirming all three as independent prognostic risk factors for OS.Comparative analysis of HRs demonstrated that LODDS had superior prognostic predictive power over LNR and pN.KM curves for pN(N0,N1,N2,N3a,N3b),LNR(0.1/0.2/0.5),and LODDS(-1.5/-1.0/-0.5/0)revealed significant differences(P<0.001)among all prognostic stratifications.Mean differences and standard deviations in 60-month relative survival were 27.93%±0.29%,41.70%±0.30%,and 26.60%±0.28%for pN,LNR,and LODDS,respectively.CONCLUSION All three staging systems are independent prognostic factors for OS.LODDS demonstrated the highest specificity,making it especially useful for predicting outcomes,while pN was the most effective in homogeneous stratification,offering better patient differentiation.These findings highlight the complementary roles of LODDS and pN in enhancing prognostic accuracy and stratification.
文摘Gastric cancer(GC)remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor,the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis(SLNM),bulky nodal tumor deposits detectable radiologically or pathologically,has received little attention in staging.Recent data from a study by Cui et al demonstrated that SLNM is an independent predictor of very poor survival in GC.Through robust data and rigorous propensitymatched analyses,SLNM emerged not merely as an anatomical finding but as an independent predictor of poor prognosis,even among patients undergoing curative resection.As precision oncology advances,the findings by Cui et al urge a fundamental rethinking of how SLNM is incorporated into clinical decisionmaking for GC management.In this editorial,we critically examine the prognostic significance of SLNM,challenge its omission from traditional staging frameworks,and advocate for its formal integration into preoperative risk stratification and treatment planning.Recognizing SLNM at diagnosis could unlock intensified neoadjuvant therapy strategies and optimize outcomes for a historically high-risk patient subgroup.
文摘Objective Almost 15%of prostate cancer(PCa)patients were found to have lymph node metastases(LNMs),which are associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.Using indocyanine green(ICG)for the sentinel node biopsy(SNB)before surgery was proposed to detect LNMs in PCa patients.However,its diagnostic performance still remains controversial.This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa.Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis has been reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database,and the register number is CRD42023421911.Four bibliographic databases were searched,i.e.,PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science,to retrieve articles studying the diagnostic performance of ICG for the SNB in PCa from the inception to Sep 9,2023.We calculated the pooled sensitivity,specificity,likelihood ratios,diagnostic odds ratios and their 95%confidence intervals(CIs).Subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were also conducted.Results A total of 17 articles from databases are enrolled in this study.Using lymph node-based data,our results showed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG alone in PCa were 71%(95%CI 52%–85%)and 68%(95%CI 64%–72%),respectively.The pooled sensitivity and specificity of applying ICG-technetium-99m-nanocolloid in PCa were 49%(95%CI 39%–59%)and 69%(95%CI 67%–71%),respectively.
文摘The article by Yuan et al accessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the patterns of lymph node(LN)metastasis in upper and lower gastric cancer(GC).In this article,we will analyze both the strengths and limitations of this paper.The study’s methodology seems appropriate and proper statistical analyses were applied to identify significant variables.The authors applied the Cox regression model to identify independent risk factors and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to assess prognosis.The researchers found notable differences in cli-nicopathologic variables between patients with upper and lower GC.Addi-tionally,they identified specific LN stations more prone to metastasis in different Siewert classifications of GC.Despite the study’s detailed analysis,it would have been beneficial to explore whether there were survival differences among upper GC patients based on the Siewert classification.Furthermore,the study should have addressed potential confounding factors that might have influenced the results.A more comprehensive analysis could have been achieved by comparing survival outcomes based on LN metastasis patterns.Overall,this article is relevant and provides valuable insights into the significance of LN metastasis patterns in upper GC patients.
基金supported by the Fujian Key Laboratory of Intelligent Imaging and Precision Radiotherapy for Tumors(Fujian Medical University)and Clinical Research Center for Radiology and Radiotherapy of Fujian Province(Digestive,Hematological and Breast Malignancies).
文摘Background:Metastasis to the infraclavicular and supraclavicular lymph nodes(ISLNs)is an important factor that predicts poor survival in patients with breast cancer;however,pathological nodal staging does not traditionally include ISLNs because of their non-routine surgical dissection.This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of ISLN metastasis and propose a refined nodal staging system tailored for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 1,072 patients with breast cancer with or without ISLN metastasis who received NAC at two institutions(Fujian cohort and Hebei cohort)from 2010 to 2022.We conducted detailed survival analysis to evaluate the diagnostic consistency and prognostic significance of ISLNs.Results:There were no survival differences among patients with ISLN involvement across different assay method-ologies and patient cohorts.Among 887 patients in the Fujian cohort,238 patients(26.8%)with positive ISLNs had significantly inferior 3-year progression-free survival(PFS,75.9%vs.90.4%,P<0.001)and overall survival(OS,90.6%vs.95.9%,P<0.001).After adjusting for potential confounders,ISLN involvement persisted as an independent predictor of both PFS and OS.We propose a refined axillary classification that combines pathologi-cal axillary staging post-NAC with ISLN involvement,revealing 3-year PFS rates of 95.3%,87.6%,73.4%,and 64.5%for the respective four groups defined by this refined classification combining axillary stage and ISLN status.Conclusions:Involvement of the ISLNs was associated with a worse prognosis,underscoring their prognostic value.This finding highlights the potential of ISLN status to influence decisions regarding adjuvant treatment in patients with breast cancer.
文摘Introduction The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)after neoadjuvant therapy(NAT)has been confirmed in clinical nodal stage 1(c N1)patients,and more patients could benefit from axillary surgery de-escalation after NAT(1,2).
基金supported in part by grants from the Sino-German Center (GZ857)Science Foundation of Shanghai (13ZR1407500)+2 种基金Shanghai Rising Star Program (12QH1400600 and 14QA1400900)Fudan University Young Investigator Promoting Program (20520133403)the National Science Foundation of China (81101807, 81001058, 81372649, 81372653 and 81172276)
文摘BACKGROUND： The prognostic factors related to lymph node involvement [lymph node status, the number of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio （LNR）] and the number of nodes evaluated in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy are poorly defined. METHODS： A total of 167 patients who had undergone resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma from February 2010 to August 2011 were included in this study. Histological examination was performed to evaluate the tumor differentiation and lymph node involvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made to determine the relationship between the variables related to nodal involvement and the number of nodes and survival. RESULTS： The median number of total nodes examined was 10 （range 0-44） for the entire cohort. The median number of total nodes examined in node-negative （pN0） patients was similar to that in node-positive （pN1） patients. Patients with pN1 diseases had significantly worse survival than those with pN0 ones （P=0.000）. Patients with three or more positive nodes had a poorer prognosis compared with those with the negative nodes （P=0.000）. The prognosis of the patients with negative nodes was similar to that of those with one to two positive nodes （P=0.114）. The median survival of patients with an LNR ≥0.4 was shorter than that of patients with an LNR 〈0.4 in the pN1 cohort （P=0.014）. No significance was found between the number of total nodes examined and the prognosis, regardless of the cutoff of 10 or 12 and in the entire cohort or the pN0 and pN1 groups. Based on the multivariate analysis of the entire cohort and the pN1 group, the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR were all associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS： In addition to the nodal status, the number of positive nodes and the LNR can serve as comprehensive factors for the evaluation of nodal involvement. This approach may be more effective for predicting the survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreatectomy.
文摘BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.
基金Project partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61672298 and 62373197)the Major Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province,China (Grant No. 2018SJZDI142)the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province,China (Grant No. KYCX23 1045)。
文摘Identifying key nodes in complex networks is crucial for understanding and controlling their dynamics. Traditional centrality measures often fall short in capturing the multifaceted roles of nodes within these networks. The Page Rank algorithm, widely recognized for ranking web pages, offers a more nuanced approach by considering the importance of connected nodes. However, existing methods generally overlook the geometric properties of networks, which can provide additional insights into their structure and functionality. In this paper, we propose a novel method named Curv-Page Rank(C-PR), which integrates network curvature and Page Rank to identify influential nodes in complex networks. By leveraging the geometric insights provided by curvature alongside structural properties, C-PR offers a more comprehensive measure of a node's influence. Our approach is particularly effective in networks with community structures, where it excels at pinpointing bridge nodes critical for maintaining connectivity and facilitating information flow. We validate the effectiveness of C-PR through extensive experiments. The results demonstrate that C-PR outperforms traditional centrality-based and Page Rank methods in identifying critical nodes. Our findings offer fresh insights into the structural importance of nodes across diverse network configurations, highlighting the potential of incorporating geometric properties into network analysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82272845)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong(No.ZR2023ZD26).
文摘Objective:The neglect of occult lymph nodes metastasis(OLNM)is one of the pivotal causes of early non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)recurrence after local treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)or surgery.This study aimed to develop and validate a computed tomography(CT)-based radiomics and deep learning(DL)fusion model for predicting non-invasive OLNM.Methods:Patients with radiologically node-negative lung adenocarcinoma from two centers were retrospectively analyzed.We developed clinical,radiomics,and radiomics-clinical models using logistic regression.A DL model was established using a three-dimensional squeeze-and-excitation residual network-34(3D SE-ResNet34)and a fusion model was created by integrating seleted clinical,radiomics features and DL features.Model performance was assessed using the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Five predictive models were compared;SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping(Grad-CAM)were employed for visualization and interpretation.Results:Overall,358 patients were included:186 in the training cohort,48 in the internal validation cohort,and 124 in the external testing cohort.The DL fusion model incorporating 3D SE-Resnet34 achieved the highest AUC of 0.947 in the training dataset,with strong performance in internal and external cohorts(AUCs of 0.903 and 0.907,respectively),outperforming single-modal DL models,clinical models,radiomics models,and radiomicsclinical combined models(DeLong test:P<0.05).DCA confirmed its clinical utility,and calibration curves demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and observed OLNM probabilities.Features interpretation highlighted the importance of textural characteristics and the surrounding tumor regions in stratifying OLNM risk.Conclusions:The DL fusion model reliably and accurately predicts OLNM in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma,offering a non-invasive tool to refine staging and guide personalized treatment decisions.These results may aid clinicians in optimizing surgical and radiotherapy strategies.
文摘Gastric cancer(GC)represents a significant global health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality.Specific behaviors of GC sub-types,distinct dissem-ination patterns,and associated risk-factors remain poorly understood.This editorial highlights several key prognostic factors,including pathological staging and vascular invasion,that impact GC.It examines a recent study’s investigation of differential metastatic lymph nodes distribution and survival in upper and lower GC sub-types,focusing on histological characterization,pathophysiology,usage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and additional predictive determinants.We assess the statistical robustness and clinical applicability of the findings,un-derscoring the importance of treating GC as a heterogeneous disease and em-phasizing how tailored surgical approaches informed by lymph node distribution can optimize tumor detection while minimizing unnecessary interventions.The study’s large cohort,multi-center design,and strict inclusion criteria strengthen its validity in guiding surgical planning and risk-stratification.However,inte-grating genetic and molecular data is critical for refining models and broadening applicability.Additionally,recurrence-metrics and infection-related factors,such as Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus,absent in the original study,remain vital for directing future research.By bridging metastatic patterns with pros-pective methodologies and inclusion of diverse populations,this editorial pro-vides a framework for advancing early detection and personalized GC care.
基金The National High Technology Research and Deve-lopment Program of China (863Program) (No.2003AA143040).
文摘Major consideration dimensions for the physical layer design of wireless sensor network （WSN） nodes is analyzed by comparing different wireless communication approaches, diverse mature standards, important radio frequency （RF） parameters and various microcontroller unit （MCU） solutions. An implementation of the WSN node is presented with experimental results and a novel ＂one processor working at two frequencies＂ energy saving strategy. The lifetime estimation issue is analyzed with consideration to the periodical listen required by common WSN media access control （MAC） algorithms. It can be concluded that the startup time of the RF which determines the best sleep time ratio and the shortest backoff slot time of MAC, the RF frequency and modulation methods which determinate the RX and TX current, and the overall energy consumption of the dual frequency MCU SOC （ system on chip） are the most essential factors for the WSN node physical layer design.
文摘Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy remains a cornerstone in the management of breast cancer, as it provides an accurate staging of the disease while minimizing the morbidity associated with complete axillary lymph node dissection. Advances in SLN detection have been very important in refining surgical techniques and improving patient outcomes. The purpose of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of radiocolloids, blue dyes, and fluorescent tracers in detecting the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Specifically, we analyzed the detection rate, accuracy, and safety profile of the techniques to outline the most reliable and clinically available. A comprehensive review was conducted, searching key databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for studies published between 2010 and 2024. The review focused on studies that compared the performance of radiocolloids, blue dyes, and fluorescent tracers in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. A total of 54 studies were included based on specific inclusion criteria. Results: Radiocolloids showed high detection rates in studies. Blue dyes have comparable results, but a small percentage of allergic reactions has been observed. Fluorescent tracers such as indocyanine green have improved visualization and accuracy, but their use requires specialized equipment and expertise. Combining radiocolloids with blue dyes or fluorescent tracers has improved detection rates in several studies. Cost and accessibility challenges have also been pointed out, particularly in low-resource settings. Conclusions: Radiocolloids have attained the status of gold standard in the detection of SLNs in breast cancer for their reliability and accuracy. While combined use with other tracers, like blue dyes or fluorescent agents, enhances overall detection performance, making it more holistic. As expected, further innovation and effort are required to improve accessibility and optimize the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy worldwide.
