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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between platelet indices [mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT)] at diagnosis in osteosarcoma.The information of 233 patients with osteosarcoma at diagnosis between 2007 and 2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Clinical parameters such as gender, age, size and site of tumor, and tumor necrosis rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed.No significant difference was noted in the mean values of MPV, PLT, PDW and PCT among stage I, II and III patients. In localized patients, the median disease-free survival (DFS) values were 42 and 22 months in the PLT

The significance of ezrin immunoexpression and prognosis for osteosarcoma is still controversial. The aim was to provide a meta-analysis for ezrin immunoexpression and prognostic features of osteosarcoma patients.A detailed search was made in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Web of Knowledge for relevant original articles published in English; methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed. Two reviewers extracted data independently. Studies were pooled and summary hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratio (ORs) with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.Final analysis of 318 patients from 5 eligible studies was performed. Combined HR of ezrin immunohistochemical staining suggested that positive immunoexpression had an unfavorable impact on osteosarcoma patients' overall survival (n = 223 in 4 studies; HR = 4.79; 95% CI: 1.50-15.30; P = 0.008) but not on event-free survival (n = 202 in 3 studies; HR = 1.59; 95% CI: 0.61-4.15; P = 0. 0.342). Combined OR of ezrin immunohistochemical staining indicated that positive immunoexpression was associated with recurrence (n = 134 in 2 studies; OR = 3.79; 95% CI: 1.49-9.64; P = 0.005) but not with serum ALP level (n = 160 in 2 studies; OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 0.09-52.50; P = 0.637) and histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy(n = 260 in 4 studies; OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.37-2.03; P = 0.740).The results of this meta-analysis suggest that ezrin positive immunoexpression confers a higher risk of recurrence and a worse survival in osteosarcoma patients. Large prospective studies are needed to provide solid data to investigate the precise prognostic significance of ezrin.

BACKGROUND: Two novel mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors everolimus and temsirolimus are now approved by regulatory agencies and have been widely investigated among various types of solid tumors, but the risk of fatal adverse events (FAEs) with these drugs is not well defined. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases for relevant trials. Eligible studies included prospective phase II and III trials evaluating everolimus and temsirolimus in patients with all malignancies and data on FAEs were available. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the summary incidence, RRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using either random effects or fixed effect models according to the heterogeneity of the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 3322 patients with various advanced solid tumors from 12 trials were included. The overall incidence of mTOR inhibitors associated FAEs was 1.8% (95%CI: 1.3-2.5%), and the incidences of everolimus related FAEs were comparable to that of temsirolimus (1.7% versus 1.8%). Compared with the controls, the use of mTOR inhibitors was associated with an increased risk of FAEs, with a RR of 3.24 (95%CI: 1.21-8.67, p = 0.019). On subgroup analysis, a non-statistically significant increase in the risk of FAEs was found according to different mTOR inhibitors, tumor types or controlled therapy. No evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: With the present evidence, the use of mTOR inhibitors seems to increase the risk of FAEs in patients with advanced solid tumors. More high quality trials are still needed to investigate this association.

PURPOSE: Ezrin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in tumor growth and invasion. However its prognostic value for survival in patients with solid tumor remains controversial. METHODS: Several databases were searched, including Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS). The pooled hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials. RESULTS: Twenty-seven eligible trials involving 4693 patients were ultimately identified. A summary hazard ratio (HR) of all studies and sub-group hazard ratios were calculated. The combined HR suggested that a positive Ezrin expression had an impact on overall survival (OS) [1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-2.39; P

BACKGROUND: Combining targeted therapy has been extensively investigated in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it is still unclear whether combining targeted therapy might offer any benefits against standard monotherapy with erlotinib. We thus performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy and safety of combining targeted therapy versus erlotinib alone as second-line treatment for advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Several databases were searched, including Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and grade 3 or 4 adverse event (AEs). The pooled hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials. RESULTS: Eight eligible trials involved 2417 patients were ultimately identified. The intention to treatment (ITT) analysis demonstrated that combining targeted therapy significantly improved OS (HR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99, p = 0.024), PFS (HR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.72-0.97, p = 0.018), and ORR (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-1.80, P = 0.04). Sub-group analysis based on phases of trials, EGFR-status and KRAS status also showed that there was a tendency to improve PFS and OS in combining targeted therapy, except that PFS for patients with EGFR-mutation or wild type KRAS favored erlotinib monotherapy. Additionally, more incidence of grade 3 or 4 rash, fatigue and hypertension were observed in combining targeted therapy. CONCLUSIONS: With the available evidence, combining targeted therapy seems superior over erlotinib monotherapy as second-line treatment for advanced NSCLC. More studies are still needed to identify patients who will most likely benefit from the appropriate combining targeted therapy.