title: Evaluation of DNA ploidy in relation with established prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma are diagnosed with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy in relation with established clinical and laboratory variables in such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty six patients were studied retrospectively. Twenty two potential prognostic variables (demographics, clinical parameters, biochemical markers, treatment modality) were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean survival time was 38.41 weeks (95% c.i.: 33.17-43.65), median survival 27.00 weeks (95% c.i.: 23.18-30.82). On multivariate analysis, 10 factors had an independent effect on survival: performance status, local extension of tumor, distant metastases, ploidy score, anemia under epoetin therapy, weight loss, pain, steatorrhoea, CEA, and palliative surgery and chemotherapy. Patients managed with palliative surgery and chemotherapy had 6.7 times lower probability of death in comparison with patients without any treatment. Patients with ploidy score > 3.6 had 5.0 times higher probability of death in comparison with patients with ploidy score < 2.2 and these with ploidy score 2.2-3.6 had 6.3 times higher probability of death in comparison with patients with ploidy score < 2.2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the significance of the examined factor, survival was improved mainly by the combination of surgery and chemotherapy, and the presence of low DNA ploidy score.
authors: Oncology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. tsavari1@otenet.gr
authors: Nikolas
authors: N
authors: Tsavaris
authors: Nicolaos
authors: N
authors: Kavantzas
authors: Kostantinos
authors: K
authors: Tsigritis
authors: Ioannis D
authors: ID
authors: Xynos
authors: Nikitas
authors: N
authors: Papadoniou
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Lazaris
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Kosmas
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Agrogiannis
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Dokou
authors: Evangelos
authors: E
authors: Felekouras
authors: Efstathios
authors: E
authors: Antoniou
authors: Aris
authors: A
authors: Polyzos
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Sarantonis
authors: Heracles
authors: H
authors: Tsipras
authors: Gavrilos
authors: G
authors: Karatzas
authors: Alexandros
authors: A
authors: Papalambros
authors: Efstratios S
authors: ES
authors: Patsouris
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013534:Survival