Survival Impact of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Olfactory Neuroblastoma ： 513 Cases from the SEER Database

Abstract BackgroundTo evaluate the impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on survival in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients with different stages. MethodsPatients with ONB were selected in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 2004–2016. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan Meier (K-M) method, Cox regression analysis, and competing risk model. ResultsA total of 513 patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analysis results demonstrated that PORT was not an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) of patients with modified Kadish stage A and B (p=0.699 and p=0.248, respectively). For C and D cases, patients who underwent PORT had significantly better OS than those who did not undergo PORT (p=0.03 and p< 0.0001, respectively). K-M curves illustrated that the 5- and 10-year OS rates according to radiotherapy (PORT vs. non-PORT) were 70.4% vs. 85.3% and 56.8% vs. 68.2% in stage C, respectively. For stage D patients, the 5-year OS rates were 42.6% and 70.7%, and 10-year OS rates were 29.5% and 53.4% in the PORT and non-PORT groups, respectively. The competitive risk model revealed that the 5-year cancer-specific cumulative mortality incidence decreased by 26.6% and the 10-year mortality incidence by 41.4% in patients with stage C who were treated using PORT; meanwhile, for patients with stage D who were treated with PORT, the 5- and 10-year mortality incidence reduced by 35.3% and 42.6%, respectively. Chemotherapy was not related to the prognosis of ONB (all p> 0.05).ConclusionsOur results indicate that PORT improved survival outcomes in ONB patients with modified Kadish stage C and D. However, for modified Kadish stage A and B cases, PORT may not affect survival. Chemotherapy was not recommended for ONB patients until more studies determine the role of chemotherapy.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Marital Status on Survival of Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A SEER Database Analysis

Gastroenterology Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2018/5740823 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wei Song ◽

Chuan Tian

Keyword(s):

Prognostic Factor ◽

Marital Status ◽

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Seer Database ◽

Cancer Specific Survival ◽

Stromal Tumors ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Risk Of Cancer ◽

The Impact

Background. Marital status has been reported to be a prognostic factor in multiple malignancies. However, its prognostic value on gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have not yet been determined. The objective of the present analysis was to assess the effects of marital status on survival in patients with GISTs. Methods. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to analyze 6195 patients who were diagnosed with GISTs from 2001 to 2014. We also use Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression to analyze the impact of marital status on cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results. Patients in the married group had more frequency in white people, more high/moderate grade tumors, and were more likely to receive surgery. Widowed patients had a higher proportion of women, a greater proportion of older patients (>60 years), and more common site of the stomach. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that marital status was an independent prognostic factor for GISTs (P<0.001). Married patients had better CSS than unmarried patients (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis suggested that widowed patients had the lowest CSS compared with all other patients. Conclusions. Marital status is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with GISTs, and widowed patients are at greater risk of cancer-specific mortality.

Download Full-text

The Prognostic Value of m6A-related LncRNAs in Patients with HNSCC

10.21203/rs.3.rs-778502/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Liu-qing Zhou ◽

Jie-yu Zhou ◽

Yao Hu

Keyword(s):

Prognostic Value ◽

Risk Model ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Predictive Ability ◽

Enrichment Analysis ◽

The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽

Consensus Clustering ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Cancer Genome Atlas

Abstract Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications play an essential role in tumorigenesis. m6A modifications are known to modulate RNAs, including mRNAs and lncRNAs. However, the prognostic role of m6A-related lncRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is poorly understood.Methods: Based on LASSO Cox regression, enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, a risk prognostic model, and consensus clustering analysis, we analyzed the 12 m6A-related lncRNAs in HNSCC samples data using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.Results: We found twelve m6A-related lncRNAs in the training cohort and validated in all cohorts by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, and revealing their independent prognostic value in HNSCC. Moreover, ROC analysis was conducted, confirming the strong predictive ability of this signature for HNSCC prognosis. GSEA and detailed immune infiltration analyses revealed specific pathways associated with m6A-related lncRNAs.Conclusions: In this study, a novel risk model including twelve genes (SAP30L-AS1, AC022098.1, LINC01475, AC090587.2, AC008115.3, AC015911.3, AL122035.2, AC010226.1, AL513190.1, ZNF32-AS1, AL035587.1 and AL031716.1) was built. It could accurately predict HNSCC prognosis and provide potential prediction outcome and new therapeutic target for HNSCC patients.

Download Full-text

Identification of a Pyroptosis-Related lncRNA Risk Model for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Response in Colon Adenocarcinoma

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1234682/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Yuying Tan ◽

Liqing Lu ◽

Xujun Liang ◽

Yongheng Chen

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Risk Model ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Colon Adenocarcinoma ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Immune Infiltration ◽

Cerna Network ◽

Kaplan Meier

Abstract Background: Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the most common malignant tumors and diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor prognosis in the world. Pyroptosis is involved in the initiation and progression of tumors. This research focused on constructing a pyroptosis-related ceRNA network to generate a reliable risk model for risk prediction and immune infiltration analysis of COAD.Methods: Transcriptome data, miRNA-sequencing data and clinical information were downloaded from the TCGA database. Firstly, differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified to construct a pyroptosis-related ceRNA network. Secondly, a pyroptosis-related lncRNA risk model was developed applying univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) regression analysis. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were utilized to functionally annotate RNAs contained in the ceRNA network. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and nomogram were applied to validate this risk model. Finally, the relationship of this risk model with immune cells and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) related genes were analyzed.Results: Totally 5373 DEmRNAs, 1159 DElncRNAs and 355 DEmiRNAs were identified. A pyroptosis-related ceRNA regulatory network containing 132 lncRNAs, 7miRNAs and 5 mRNAs was constructed and a ceRNA-based pyroptosis-related risk model including 11 lncRNAs was built. Tumor tissues were classified into high- and low- risk groups according to the median risk score. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the high-risk group had a shorter survival time; ROC analysis, independent prognostic analysis and nomogram further indicated the risk model was a significant independent prognostic factor which had excellent ability to predict patients’ risk. Moreover, immune infiltration analysis indicated that the risk model was related to immune infiltration cells (i.e., B cells naïve, T cells follicular helper, Macrophages M1, etc.) and ICB-related genes (i.e., PD-1, CTLA4, HAVCR2, etc).Conclusions: This pyroptosis-related lncRNA risk model possessed good prognostic value and the ability to predict the outcome of ICB immunotherapy in COAD.

Download Full-text

The role of radiotherapy in neuroendocrine cervical cancer: SEER-based study

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/00368504211009336 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 003685042110093

Author(s):

Meilian Dong ◽

Xiaobin Gu ◽

Taoran Ma ◽

Yin Mi ◽

Yonggang Shi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Local Treatment ◽

Seer Database ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Seer Data

Background: There are few randomised prospective data or guidelines for the treatment of neuroendocrine cervical cancer (NECC). In addition, the role of radiotherapy (RT) in NECC remains controversial. We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to investigate the role of RT for the treatment of NECC. Particular attention was paid to the different role of RT in patients with or without a metastasis (M1 or M0). Methods: The SEER database was queried for studies on NECC. We limited the year of diagnosis to the years 2000 to 2015. A Pearson’s two-sided Chi-squared test, the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis models were used for statistical analyses. The overall survival (OS) was studied for the overall group and between-subgroup groups. Results: NECC was an aggressive disease with a mean OS of only 46.3 months (range of 0–196 months, median of 23 months). No significant differences were shown between the surgery (S) and S + RT groups ( p = 0.146) in the M0 (without metastasis) arm. However, there was a statistically significant difference in OS between the S and S + RT groups in the M1 (with metastasis) arm (median of 44.6 months for the S group and 80.9 months for the S + RT group), p = 0.004. The mean survival was significantly longer for M0 patients than for M1 patients when treated with S only (S arm), that is, 82.1 months versus 44.6 months, respectively (log-rank p = 0.000). We also noted that when patients received adjuvant RT (S + RT arm), there were no significant differences between the M0 and M1 groups (median of 90.6 and 81.0 months, p = 0.704, respectively). Age at diagnosis, chemotherapy, T stage and N stage were significant factors for OS in the M0 arm. Interestingly, radiotherapy was the only significant factor for OS with a multivariate HR for death of 0.502 (95% CI 0.206–0.750, p = 0.006) in the M1 arm. Conclusions: RT may be carefully used in patients who are negative for metastases. Using SEER data, we identified a significant survival advantage with the combination of radiotherapy and surgery in NECC with metastases. This suggests that active local treatment should be conducted and has a significant impact on OS, even if a distant metastasis has occurred.

Download Full-text

Outcomes of Patients With Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer in Relationship to Opioid Use: Findings From Eight Clinical Trials

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network ◽

10.6004/jnccn.2019.7382 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 575-581

Author(s):

Omar Abdel-Rahman ◽

Hatim Karachiwala ◽

Jacob C. Easaw

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Survival Outcomes ◽

Disease Entity ◽

Gastrointestinal Cancers ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

The Impact

Background: This study assessed the patterns of opioid use among patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers who were included in 8 clinical trials and evaluated the impact of opioid use on survival outcomes of included patients. Methods: Deidentified datasets from 8 clinical trials evaluating first-line systemic treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancers were accessed from the Project Data Sphere platform (ClinicalTrial.gov identifiers: NCT01124786, NCT00844649, NCT00290966, NCT00678535, NCT00699374, NCT00272051, NCT00305188, and NCT00384176). These trials evaluated patients with pancreatic carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and colorectal carcinoma. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors predicting the use of opioids. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to compare survival outcomes in each disease entity among patients who did or did not receive opioid treatment. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was then used to further assess the impact of opioid use on survival outcomes in each disease entity. Results: A total of 3,441 participants were included in the current analysis. The following factors predicted a higher probability of opioid use within logistic regression analysis: younger age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.990; 95% CI, 0.984–0.997; P=.004), nonwhite race (OR for white vs nonwhite, 0.749; 95% CI, 0.600–0.933; P=.010), higher ECOG score (OR for 1 vs 0, 1.751; 95% CI, 1.490–2.058; P<.001), and pancreatic primary site (OR for colorectal vs pancreatic, 0.241; 95% CI, 0.198–0.295; P<.001). Use of opioids was consistently associated with worse overall survival (OS) in Kaplan-Meier survival estimates of each disease entity (P=.008 for pancreatic cancer; P<.001 for gastric cancer, HCC, and colorectal cancer). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, opioid use was associated with worse OS among patients with pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.245; 95% CI, 1.063–1.459; P=.007), gastric cancer (HR, 1.725; 95% CI, 1.403–2.122; P<.001), HCC (HR, 1.841; 95% CI, 1.480–2.290; P<.001), and colorectal cancer (HR, 1.651; 95% CI, 1.380–1.975; P<.001). Conclusions: Study findings suggest that opioid use is consistently associated with worse OS among patients with different gastrointestinal cancers. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of this observation and its potential implications.

Download Full-text

THE PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF CD3+, CD68+, CD20+ INTERSTITIAL CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY ALLOGRAFT GLOMERULITIS

Nephrology (Saint-Petersburg) ◽

10.24884/1561-6274-2018-22-6-47-55 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 47-55

Author(s):

V. A. Dobronravov ◽

A. O. Mukhametdinova ◽

M. S. Khrabrova ◽

A. Nabokow ◽

H. -J. Gröne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Long Term Prognosis ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

THE OBJECTIVEof the study was to assess the impact of the count of interstitial CD3+, CD68+ and CD20+ cells on long-term prognosis of renal allograft (RA).PATIENTS AND METHODS.86 RA recipients with biopsy-proven according to the Banff 2013- 2017 criteria glomerulitis were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were subdivided into the following groups: 1) isolated glomerulitis with negative donor-specific antibodies (DSA) at the biopsy (n=53); 2) glomerulitis with positive DSA (n=22); 3) glomerulitis with undetermined DSA (n=11). Quantitative assay of interstitial positive cells was performed after immunohistochemical staining for CD68+, CD3+, CD20+. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used for the analysis of the relationship between interstitial CD3+, CD68+, CD20+ cells and risk of RA loss.RESULTS.CD68+ and CD3+ cells prevailed in interstitium in RA glomerulitis. CD20+ infiltrates were found in 60% of cases. CD20+ cells tended to form infiltrates, in 9 cases these infiltrates reached large sizes (≥ 50 CD20+ lymphocytes) and formed nodular structures. There was no difference in the count of interstitial CD3+ and CD68+ cells and in the presence of CD20+ infiltrates between DSA subgroups. Interstitial CD68+ ≥ 5 cells per field of view (FOV) (x400) and CD3+ ≥ 8 cells per FOV (x400), as well as the presence of large CD20+ infiltrates were associated with a lower RA survival (plog-rank < 0,05). Interstitial CD68+ (≥ 5 cells/FOV), CD3 + (≥ 8 cells/FOV) and the presence of large CD20+ interstitial infiltrates were independently associated with the risk of RA loss in the multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for DSA, cold and warm ischemia time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION. Grade of interstitial infiltration by CD68+, CD3+ and CD20+ cells in RA glomerulitis could be independent predictor of RA loss.

Download Full-text

Prognostic Score and Associations With Survival Improvement Offered by Radiotherapy After Surgery for Adenocarcinomas of Parotid Gland: A Population-based Longitudinal Cohort Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-73079/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wenlong Qiu ◽

Wenhao Zhang

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Survival Benefit ◽

Risk Model ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Postoperative Radiotherapy ◽

Prognostic Score ◽

Population Based ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Cox Regression Analysis

Abstract Background: Radiotherapy (RT) after surgery is a treatment option in the management of parotid adenocarcinoma, and the role of adjuvant RT for parotid adenocarcinoma remains to be clarified. The survival benefit of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) based on prognostic risk factors needs further determination.Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study using SEER data, patients were divided into surgery+RT (RT group) and surgery alone (non-RT group). A prognostic risk model was constructed to stratify patients based on the survival rate. We performed a Cox regression analysis with propensity score weighting to evaluate survival benefit between the two groups. Results: We identified 2223 eligible patients with parotid adenocarcinoma, 1449 (65.2%) in the RT group and 774 (34.8%) in the non-RT group. Overall, 674 cancer-specific deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 141 months, the overall survival (OS) of RT group was better than that of non-RT group in the weighted analysis (HR=0.656, 95% CI=0.487-0.882, P=0.005). Significant survival improvements in the RT group compared with the non-RT group were only observed in patients with high risk (HR=0.647, 95% CI=0.426-0.983, P=0.041). The survival benefit of RT was significantly correlated with prognostic risk stratification (P<.001).Conclusion: In this population-based study, the patient prognostic risk stratification for parotid adenocarcinoma is associated with the magnitude of survival improvement by RT after surgery, suggesting that this risk model could provide decision guidance on comprehensive treatment strategy.

Download Full-text

Cisplatin-Based versus Carboplatin-Based Chemotherapy for Extra-Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas; A Real-World Study.

Neuroendocrinology ◽

10.1159/000520193 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Omar Abdel-Rahman ◽

Sheryl L. Koski

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Survival Outcomes ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Platinum Agent ◽

Extra Pulmonary ◽

The Impact ◽

Neuroendocrine Carcinomas

Objective: To assess the survival differences between cisplatin/etoposide versus carboplatin/etoposide chemotherapy regimens in the management of extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Methods: Administrative cancer care databases in the province of Alberta, Canada were reviewed, and patients with extra-pulmonary NECs (including those with small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas) who were treated with either cisplatin/ etoposide or carboplatin/ etoposide, 2004-2019, were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to compare the survival outcomes according to the type of platinum agent, and multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of the type of platinum agent on overall survival outcomes. Results: A total of 263 eligible patients were included in this analysis. These include 176 patients who received cisplatin/ etoposide and 87 patients who received carboplatin/etoposide. Using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, patients treated with cisplatin have better overall survival compared to patients treated with carboplatin (P=0.005). Multivariable Cox regression analysis suggested that the following factors were associated with worse overall survival: higher Charlson comorbidity index (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05-1.30), gastrointestinal primary site (HR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.12-2.14), stage IV disease (HR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.28-2.38) and use of carboplatin (HR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.02-1.92). Conclusions: The current study suggested that cisplatin/etoposide might be associated with better overall survival compared to carboplatin/etoposide among patients with extra-pulmonary NECs. It is unclear if this is related to differences in inherent responsiveness to the two platinum agents, or due to differences in comorbidity burden between the two treatment groups.

Download Full-text

With versus Without Primary Tumor Radiotherapy in Patients with Unresectable Stage IV Rectal or Rectosigmoid Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis for Survival

10.21203/rs.3.rs-16443/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gang Wang ◽

Ling Wen Wang ◽

Jie Hai Jin ◽

min Hong Dong ◽

wei Wei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Primary Tumor ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Rectosigmoid Cancer ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: To evaluate the impact of primary tumor radiotherapy on survival in patients with unresectable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer. Methods: Form September 2008 to September 2017, 350 patients with unresectable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer were retrospectively reviewed in our center. All patients received at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and were divided into two groups according to with primary tumor radiotherapy or without. 163 patients received primary tumor radiotherapy, and the median radiation dose was 56.69Gy(50.4-60). Survival curves were estimated from the Kaplan–Meier procedure to roughly compare survival among two groups. Subsequently, 18-month survival was used as the outcome variable for this study. This study mainly evaluated the impact of primary tumor radiotherapy on survival of these patients through a series of multivariate Cox regression analyses after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: The median follow-up time was 21 months. All 350 patients received a median of 7 cycles of chemotherapy (range 4-12), 163 (46.67%) patients received primary tumor radiotherapy for local symptoms. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed a significant overall survival (OS) advantage for primary tumor radiotherapy group to without radiotherapy (20.07 vs 17.33 months; P=0.002). In this study, multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusted covariates, multivariate Cox regression analysis after PSM, and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis and propensity score (PS)-adjusted model analysis consistently showed that primary tumor radiotherapy could effectively reduce the risk of death for these patients at 18 months (HR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.98; HR:0.79, 95% CI:0.93-1.45; HR: 0.70, 95% CI 0.55-0.99 and HR: 0.74, 95% CI:0.59-0.94). Conclusion: Compared with patients with stage IV rectal or rectosigmoid cancer who did not receive primary tumor radiotherapy, received primary tumor radiotherapy reduced the risk of death in these patients. The radical doses（59.4Gy/ 33 fractions or 60Gy/ 30 fractions） of radiation for primary tumors might be considered for unresectable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer, not just for relieve symptoms. Keywords: Stage IV Rectal cancer, primary tumor radiotherapy, propensity score matching.

Download Full-text

Prior Therapy With Pegylated-Interferon Alfa-2b Improves the Efficacy of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Advanced Melanoma

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.675873 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Dong-Dong Jia ◽

Yanling Niu ◽

Honglin Zhu ◽

Sizhen Wang ◽

Tonghui Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adjuvant Therapy ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Objective Response ◽

Pegylated Interferon ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Prior Therapy ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Melanoma Patients ◽

The Impact

Combination immunotherapy can overcome the limited objective response rates of PD-1 blockade. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) has been proven to be effective in modulating immune responses and may enhance the clinical responses to PD-1 blockade. According to clinical practice guidelines, IFN-α was recommended as adjuvant therapy for stage IIB/C melanoma patients. However, the impact of prior IFN-α therapy on the efficacy of subsequent PD-1 blockade in melanoma has not been previously reported. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis for melanoma patients and addressed whether prior IFN-α therapy enhanced adjuvant pembrolizumab as later-line treatment. Fifty-six patients with resectable stage III/IV melanoma who received adjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Notably, 25 patients received adjuvant pegylated IFN-α (PEG-IFN-α) in the prior line of treatment while 31 patients did not receive prior PEG-IFN-α therapy. Cox regression analysis showed that prior PEG-IFN-α therapy was associated with the efficacy of later-line adjuvant pembrolizumab (hazard ratio=0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.89; P = 0.026). The recurrence rates after treatment with adjuvant pembrolizumab were significantly reduced in the prior PEG-IFN-α group (P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis also showed that recurrence-free survival (RFS) after adjuvant pembrolizumab therapy was prolonged by prior PEG-IFN-α treatment (median RFSPem 8.5 months vs. 4.5 months; P = 0.0372). These findings indicated that prior PEG-IFN-α could enhance the efficacy of adjuvant pembrolizumab. The long-lasting effects of PEG-IFN-α provide a new rationale for designing combination or sequential immunotherapy.

Download Full-text