Tag Archives: prognostic factors

Beta-2 Microglobulin as Prognostic Marker in Multiple Myeloma

Petra Dorina, Oltean G, Demian Smaranda, Candea Marcela, Macarie I

Medical Clinic I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş

Objectives: A number of biological, cytogenetic, molecular and clinical factors influence the evolution of patients with multiple myeloma. The study intends to evaluate prognostic value of beta-2 microglobulin in terms of survival of patients and response to chemotherapy and correlation with the main biological factors.
Material and method: The study analyses 44 patients diagnosed and treated between January 2006 and December 2010. Statistical analysis consisted of calculating correlation coefficient „r” (Pearson Bravais) and survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Results: Beta-2 microglobulin was directly correlated with creatinine, hypercalcemia, percentage of bone marrow plasma cells, hyperproteinemia, monoclonal gradient, immunoglobulin G and inversely correlated with haemoglobin and low serum albumin. Median survival at patients having beta-2 microglobulin <3.5 mg/l was of 48 months, of 43 months at those having beta-2 microglobulin between 3.5 and 5.55 mg/l and 20 months at patients having beta-2 microglobulin >5.5 mg/l. Patients with beta-2 microglobulin <5.5 mg/l had complete remission in 52.38% of cases and 4.76% of patients did not respond to treatment as compared to patients having beta-2 microglobulin >5.5 mg/l, who had complete remission in 39.13% of cases while 30.43% showed no response. Median survival of patients with beta-2 microglobulin >5.5 mg/l was of 56 months at patients who
completely responded to chemotherapy and of 4 months at no responsive patients.
Conclusions: The high level of beta-2 microglobulin is a negative prognostic factor in the evolution of multiple myeloma patients, adversely influencing therapeutic response rates and reducing the survival of patients with multiple myeloma.

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Overexpression of HER2/neu Receptor – Prognostic Factor in Endometrial Cancer

Ilyés L1, Rădulescu Carmen1, Grama O1, Gârbovan O1, Ádám A1, Jung J2, Rădulescu C1

1 Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania

Objective: The purpose of the study is to assess the incidence of the HER2/neu transmembrane receptor in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and to determine the association of HER2/neu with other negative prognostic factors.
Material and method: We followed the survival rates for 2 and 3 years depending of the presence of HER2/neu, correlated with other prognostic factors of endometrial cancer like the stage of the disease, the histological type and the grade of malignancy.
Results: Out of 42 patients treated, 72.42% were HER2/neu positive. In stage I 65%, in stage II 73.33%, in stage III 100% were positive for HER2/neu. The cases with endometrioid type were positive in 65.62%, with non-endometrioid type in 90%. In well differentiated forms 50%, in moderately differentiated forms 84.21% and in undifferentiated forms 77.77% were HER2/neu positive. The 2 year survival rate was 80% in HER2 positive cases, and 83.33% in negative cases. The 2 year survival rate was 85% in stage I, 80% in stage II, 66.66% in stage III and 92.85% in G1, 89.47% in G2 and 55.55% in G3 forms.
Conclusions: High expression of HER2/neu was present in advanced stages, in non-endometrioid types and in less differentiated forms of endometrial cancer. The stage of the disease and the degree of malignancy are the factors that can influence the long term survival. The pre-sence of HER2 transmembrane receptor seems not to influence the survival rates. More important prognostic predictors are the stage of the disease, the histological type and the grade of malignancy.

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