Published online Dec 15, 2017. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v9.i12.466
Peer-review started: July 14, 2017
First decision: August 7, 2017
Revised: September 17, 2017
Accepted: October 15, 2017
Article in press: October 15, 2017
Published online: December 15, 2017
Processing time: 154 Days and 7.6 Hours
To evaluate the prognostic value of the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) in rectal cancer.
TSR was determined on hematoxylin and eosin stained histological sections of 154 patients treated for rectal adenocarcinoma without prior neoadjuvant treatment in the period 1996-2006 by two observers to assess reproducibility. Patients were categorized into three categories: TSR-high [carcinoma percentage (CP) ≥ 70%], TSR-intermediate (CP 40%, 50% and 60%) and TSR-low (CP ≤ 30%). The relation between categorized TSR and survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model.
Thirty-six (23.4%) patients were scored as TSR-low, 70 (45.4%) as TSR-intermediate and 48 (31.2%) as TSR-high. TSR had a good interobserver agreement (κ = 0.724, concordance 82.5%). Overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were significantly better for patients with a high TSR (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). A similar association existed for disease specific survival (P = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, patients without lymph node metastasis and an intermediate TSR had a higher risk of dying from rectal cancer (HR = 5.27, 95%CI: 1.54-18.10), compared to lymph node metastasis negative patients with a high TSR. This group also had a worse DFS (HR = 6.41, 95%CI: 1.84-22.28). An identical association was seen for OS. These relations were not seen in lymph node metastasis positive patients.
The TSR has potential as a prognostic factor for survival in surgically treated rectal cancer patients, especially in lymph node negative cases.
Core tip: The tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) can be determined accurately on routine histopathological sections by different observers. The TSR has potential as a prognostic factor for survival in surgically treated rectal cancer patients, especially in lymph node negative cases. It could therefore be useful in decision making regarding adjuvant treatment in individual patients.