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J Cancer 2022; 13(6):1773-1784. doi:10.7150/jca.67348 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Number of Positive Lymph Nodes Combined with the Logarithmic Ratio of Positive Lymph Nodes predicts Survival in Patients with Non-Metastatic Larynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Qiyue Wang^1,2, Zhuo Tan^2,4, Chuanming Zheng^2,4, Jiafeng Wang^2,4, Guowan Zheng^2,4, Ping Huang^3,4, Yiwen Zhang^3,4 , Minghua Ge^1,2,4

1. Jinzhou Medical University, Department of postgraduate education, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China.
2. ENT-Head and Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
3. Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
4. Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
*These authors have contributed equally to this work and share corresponding author.

✉ Corresponding authors: Minghua Ge, Yiwen Zhang, E-mail: zjzyw2003com (Y. Zhang), geminghuaedu.cn (M. Ge).

Abstract

Background: Logarithmic ratio of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), number of positive lymph nodes (NPLN), and number of lymph nodes to positive lymph nodes (pLNR) are three lymph node classifications; however, their function in prognosis is unclear.

Purpose: To establish and validate an optimal nomogram according to the comparison among the 7^th TNM stage of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the three lymph node classifications.

Methods: A total of 881 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER database) with T_1-4N_1-3M₀ in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma from 2000 to 2018 were involved. The enrolled patients were allocated randomly into a training cohort and a validation cohort. Univariate cox regression analysis and multivariable cox regression analysis were applied to explore the predictors. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Harrell's concordance index (C-index) were to measure the predictive value and the accuracy of the prognostic models. Moreover, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification index (NRI) were also used to assess the predictive abilities to models. According to the optimal model, nomograms were established and compared with 7^th TNM stage of AJCC via the decision curve analysis.

Results: NPLN, LODDS, and pLNR were three predictors for the overall and cancer-specific survival in the larynx squamous cell carcinoma. According to the AIC, C-index, IDI, and NRI, the model of NPLN combined with LODDS was assumed as the optimal prognostic model. Moreover, the decision curve analysis suggested that the nomogram demonstrated a better predictive performance, compared with the 7^th AJCC TNM stage.

Conclusion: The proposed nomograms we constructed for larynx squamous cell carcinoma has potential in the prediction of patients after surgery.

Keywords: SEER database, Nomogram, Larynx squamous cell carcinoma, Number of lymph nodes to positive lymph nodes, Logarithmic ratio of positive lymph nodes, Number of positive lymph nodes

Introduction

Head and neck carcinoma comprise 4% burden each year in the United States, and is the leading cause of cancer-specific death in the world [1]. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), originating from the laryngeal mucosal epithelium, is a common subtype of head and neck carcinoma that accounted for 184,615 new cases and 99,840 deaths in 2020 [2]. LSCC is characterized by occult activity, with approximately 60% of the patients in advanced stages at the time of diagnosis [3]. Moreover, LSCC is predisposed to cervical lymph node metastasis and local infiltration, which seriously affects the survival rate of patients [4]. Current treatment options for early LSCC are improving, which includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy [5]. In recent years, despite the advances in treatment, LSCC remains a severe health issue.

Most of the latest prognostic studies focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, while the prognostic model of low-grade squamous cell carcinoma is rarely studied. Additionally, the prognosis of patients with LSCC is currently mainly based on the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) 7^th edition Tumor, Lymph node, Metastasis (TNM) staging system, where stage N is determined by the lymphatic area involved [6]. However, the AJCC system could not solve the problem of lymph node heterogeneity, which is clinically important. Currently, some scholars have indicated that the number of positive lymph nodes (NPLNs), positive lymph node ratio (pLNR), and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) can serve as tools for predicting the prognosis of solid cancer [7, 8]. However, it remains unclear whether these three lymph node classification systems could provide a better prognosis than the AJCC system for patients with LSCC. LODDS and pLNR are ratio-based nodal evaluation methods, both of which include the NPLNs. LODDS was calculated as follows: LODDS = log (NPLN + 0.50/NDLN - NPLN + 0.50), where NPLN is defined as the number of positive lymph node and NDLN is defined as the number of dissected lymph nodes. pLNR was calculated as follows: pLNR = NPLN / NDLN [9-13].

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database, a database of cancer incidence and survival rates in the United States, is complete and comprehensive [14]. Our objective was to first compare the predictive effect of the classification of NPLN, LODDS, and pLNR of patients with LSCC on the long-term survival prognosis. Second, we established and validated models to construct selective staging systems to enable the prediction of long-term cancer-specific and overall survival (OS) in these patients using node region information and number of examinations.

Methods and Materials

Data selection

We obtained data from the SEER databases, which contains the data for approximately 34.6% population in the United States, with the SEER*Stat Software (the version is 8.3.9.2). The dataset we chose for the statistical research is the 'Incidence SEER 18 Registries Customs Data (with additional treatment fields), and the Nov 2020 Sub (2000-2018)' and the username for downloading the statistics is: 11363-Nov2020 [15]. The histology and site of the primary tumors were coded from the 3^rd edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O-3).

Cohort classification

A total of 881 patients from the SEER database were selected for our research. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (I) The site and morphology were chosen as “Larynx” according to the TNM 7/CS v0204+Schema in the SEER*Stat software, (II) Patients in the cohort diagnosed with T_1-4N_1-3M₀ from 2000 to 2018 according to the AJCC 7^th edition, (III) Patients who were diagnosed with primary LSCC with site codes C32.0, C32.1, C32.2, C32.8, and C32.9, and (IV) Positive pathology confirmation of the histological type as squamous carcinoma (8071/3, 8072/3, 8074/3, 8082/3, and 8083/3) based on ICD-O-3 His/Behave. Patients were excluded for the following reasons: (I) Missing or unknown clinical patients information, (II) Survival time of patients was equal to 0 months, (III) Less than one regional lymph node examination or surgery that does not involve lymph node removal, (IV) Patients receiving preoperative radiotherapy, (V) Patients with multiple primary cancers, (VI) Lack of information on NDLN, NPLN, and TNM stage and survival outcomes, (VII) The stage according to AJCC were inconformity to T_1-4N_1-3M₀; (VIII) Diagnosis not confirmed by positive histology and death certificates or autopsy. The process of filtering the data is shown in Figure S1.

Data Processing

After data filtering, additional classification was carried out. Age, NPLN, LODDS, as well as pLNR were considered as continuous variables; the other factors excluding these were considered as categorical variables. Marital status in our study included single, married, discovered, and others. We classified the number of lymph node dissection in patients as 1 to 3, 4 or more, and others. In several clinical studies, the correlation is not linear between the continuous variables and the outcomes; thus, the clinical application of the continuous variables is challenging. We used X-tile software to identify the best threshold for the survival data [16]. The software performs statistical tests on different values as cutoff values, and the optimal cutoff value is identified as the smallest p-value result. Five continuous variables (Age, Tumor size, NPLN, LODDS, and pLNR) were trichotomized via the X-tile software. For the OS cohort, age was categorized into 23-64, 65-70, and 71 years and more, while in the cancer-specific survival (CSS) cohort age was categorized into 23-63, 64-70, and 71 years and more. Tumor size was divided into low size (1-21 mm), middle size (22-53 mm), and high size (54-110 mm) in the OS cohort, while in the CSS cohort, tumor size was divided into low size (1 -30 mm), middle size (31-48 mm) and high size (49-110 mm). LODDS was grouped into low LODDS (-2.26 to -1.36), middle LODDS (-1.35 to -0.93), and high LODDS (-0.93 to 0.70) in the OS cohort, while in the CSS cohort, LODDS was grouped into low LODDS (-2.26 to -1.35), middle LODDS (-1.34 to -0.87), high LODDS (-0.86 to 0.7). pLNR was divided into low pLNR(0 to 0.04), middle pLNR (0.05 to 0.09), high pLNR (-0.93 to 0.70) in the OS cohort; while pLNR was divided into low pLNR (0 to 0.04), middle pLNR (0.05 to 0.11), and high pLNR (0.34 to 1) in the CSS cohort. NPLN was divided into low NPLN (0-1), middle NPLN (2-5), high NPLN (6-43) in both the OS and CSS cohort.

In our study, we chose OS and CSS as the primary endpoints. OS was defined as the time from the beginning to death from any causes. CSS was defined as the time until cancer results in the death of the individual. The prognosis and follow-up information from the SEER database are updated regularly, with the latest data published in 2020.

Establishment of a prognostic model

To distinct the prognostic model, continuous variables were converted to rank variables or categorical variables and presented as counts and proportions. The enrolled patients were randomly allocated into a training and a validation cohort by 7:3 proportion, analyzing the clinical prognostic information for those two groups. Univariate cox regression analysis was applied to define the potential prognostic factors in the training cohort [17]. After excluding the non-statistically significant prognostic factors, the remaining statistical significance factors (p < 0.1) were included in the multivariate cox regression analysis. 95% confidence intervals (CI) and Hazard ratio (HR) were also presented. Secondly, we examined the correlation between the model of NPLN, pLNR, and LODDS of the overall status, training cohort, and validation cohort. Thirdly, we included NPLN, pLNR, LODDS, pLNR + NPLN, and LODDS + NPLN into five disparate multivariate Cox regression models. The performance prediction of these five models was evaluated by the statistical model fit, discriminatory ability, and accuracy. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was to evaluate the fit for the statistical model [18]. Harrell's concordance index (C-index) was applied to measure the accuracy and discriminatory ability for the predictive models [19]. The net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index were used to assess improvement in the predictive models.

Construction of the nomograms

The multivariate cox regression models of OS and CSS were converted to nomograms with optimized performance prediction, which were constructed using the R software [20]. Moreover, 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS were calibrated via calibration curves to compare the nomogram-predicted survival with the actual survival [21]. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used for the comparison among the TNM stage and the nomogram [22].

Statistical Analysis

We used R (version 4.1.1) to perform all the statistical tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the survival time in both OS and CSS, and the log-rank test was used to analyze the differences in the survival curves. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to confirm collinearity among the variables. The correlation coefficient between the two independent variables considered as absence of multicollinearity was less than 0.7 [23]. All the tests deemed as statistically significant were two-sided, and a p value < 0.05 was set.

Results

Clinicopathological Characteristics

The SEER program currently collects and publishes the morbidity, treatment information, and survival data from more than 26% of the population-based cancer registries in the United States. Overall, a total of 59,526 patients diagnosed with LSCC between January 2010 and December 2015 were enrolled in the research. After adoption of the screening criteria, 881 patients were incorporated in the final study cohort, of which 615 were assigned to the training cohort and 266 to the validation cohort. The basic characteristics of the patients in both the training and validation cohorts are displayed in Table 1. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years.

Survival analysis

The median survival-months' time on the whole was 10 months upon calculating the time from patient admission to the cutoff date for analysis [24]. As displayed in Figure 1, patients with a high value of pLNR, LODDS, and NPLN have a significant correlation with lower OS and CSS rates that the log-rank test is p < 0.05. However, there was a significant correlation between the pLNR and LODDS (Spearman correlation is 0.9); moreover, there was no significant association among the NPLN and the other variables in the three datasets, which includes the overall set, the training cohort as well as the validation cohort (Figure 2). Thus, we constructed five models of pLNR, LODDS, NPLN, pLNR + NPLN, and LODDS + NPLN to investigate the predictive potential.

Univariate cox regression analysis included the following factors: age, sex, race, marital status, grade, laterality, primary site, AJCC 7^th T stage, AJCC 7^th N stage, AJCC 7^th M stage, tumor size, lymph node dissection, pLNR, NPLN, LODDS, radiotherapy condition, and chemotherapy condition. The prognostic factors involved in the multivariate cox regression analysis were the factors with significant differences (p < 0.1) in the univariate cox regression analysis for both OS and CSS. Additionally, we incorporated five models, NPLN, pLNR, LODDS, pLNR + NPLN, and LODDS + NPLN, into the multivariate cox regression models. The cox regression analyses revealed that sex, primary site, race, chemotherapy, and T classification have no significance on both the OS and CSS. The results for the univariate cox regression analysis of both the OS and CSS are displayed in Figure 3, and those of the multivariate cox regression analysis are shown in Figure 4.

Comparison of the predictive performance among the models

We tested the AIC among the five models and found that LODDS + NPLN demonstrated lower AIC than the other four models. The trend was similar to the C-index, which showed that the model of LODDS with NPLN displayed higher accuracy than the other four models (Table 2). In other words, the model of LODDS + NPLN exhibited superior predictive potential than the other four models. The comparison between LODDS with NPLN and the other models using integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification index (NRI) are displayed in Table 2 [25]. Both IDI and NRI values were less than 0, illustrating that the model of LODDS combined with NPLN had a better predicting performance.

 Figure 1 

Kaplan-Meier analysis of OS and CSS for patients with high, middle, and low pLNR in training cohort [(Ai), OS; (Aii), CSS] and validation cohort [(Aiii), OS; (Aiv), CSS]; for patients with high, middle, and low LODDS in training cohort [(Bi), OS; (Bii), CSS] and validation cohort [(Biii), OS; (Biv), CSS]; for patients with high, middle, and low NPLN in training cohort [(Ci), OS; (Cii), CSS] and validation cohort [(Ciii), OS; (Civ), CSS].

 Figure 2 

Correlation among variables in overall cohort (A), training cohort (B) and validation cohort (C). pLNR shows the significance correlation with LODDS in three cohorts.

 Figure 3 

The forest plot for univariate cox regression analysis in OS (A) and CSS (B). *Means: p < 0.1; ** Means: p < 0.05; ***Means: p < 0.01.

Construction and validation of the nomograms

The nomogram for OS consisted of nine prognostic factors: grade, marital status, N stage, tumor size, NPLN, LODDS, age, radiotherapy situation, and lymph node dissection (Figure 5A). Likewise, the nomogram for CSS has also been established (Figure 5B). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival for both OS and CSS could be calculated via those nomograms. As can be seen from the nomogram for OS, NPLN contributed the most to this nomogram, followed by marital status, tumor size, and other variates. While interestingly, for CSS, marital status had the greatest effect, followed by NPLN and lymph node dissection. Each of these variables corresponds to a score on the score sheet. Upon adding up the points, the total score can be obtained, then drawing a line below the total score.

 Figure 4 

Multivariate cox regression analysis and forest plot of prognostic predictors for OS (A) and CSS (B). *Means: p < 0.1; ** Means: p < 0.05; ***Means: p < 0.01.

 Figure 5 

Nomograms for patients to predict 1-year, 3-year and 5-year for OS (A) and CSS (B).

 Figure 6 

Calibration curves for nomograms in OS, CSS prediction of the training cohort (A, B), and validation cohort (C, D).

The bootstrap self-sampling method was used to calculate the C-index for OS and CSS in the training cohort, which was 0.654 and 0.671, respectively (Table 2). The predicted calibration curves for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS in the training (Figure 6A, 6B) and validation cohort (Figure 6C, 6D) were similar to the standard curves. The DCA curves of the OS and CSS (Figure 7) demonstrate that LODDS + NPLN has good predictive power for patient prognosis for both the training and validation cohorts.

Risk stratification

Each patient in the training cohort and validation cohort were calculated the total score, divided the score into OS (min-127.03, 127.04-155.53, 155.53-184.23, 184.24-max) and CSS (min-111.02, 111.03-141.66, 141.67-176.33, 176.34-max) quartiles represent different results. After stratifying the patients according to quartiles, statistically significant differences were observed between the OS (Figure 8A, 8C) and CSS (Figure 8B, 8D).

 Figure 7 

Decision curve analysis of 7^th AJCC TNM stage and nomogram for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS (Ai, Aii, Aiii), CSS (Bi, Bii, Biii) prediction of the training cohort; 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS (Ci, Cii, Ciii), CSS (Di, Dii, Diii) prediction of the validation cohort.

Discussion

Recently, as increasingly many indicators have been identified as prognostic factors for predicting LSCC, the conventional AJCC staging system has gradually lost its power to assess the prognosis. The primary reason is that the AJCC stage is mainly based on the anatomical location of lymph nodes, which could not adequately reflect the disease status. In the last two decades, the LODDS and pLNR have garnered great interest. In the studies by Persiain et al. and Hou X et al., LODDS and pLNR have a better predictive value for the survival time [7, 26]. Thus, based on the different lymph node classifications, we constructed different models to figure out the superior predictive potential for prognosis. In our study, we filtrated data from the SEER database, determining the prognostic risk factors based on the cox regression analysis. We concluded that pLNR, NPLN, and LODDS are important factors affecting the survival of patients with T_1-4N_1-3M₀ LSCC and could be applied to predict the prognosis of these patients. The results of the multiple risk factors were visualized, and it was proved that those factors had a significant influence on the prognosis of the patients with LSCC. The value of the C-index, calibration curve, as well as the DCA curve also demonstrated that the nomogram we constructed has good clinical prediction ability. In addition, risk stratification demonstrated the feasibility of the nomogram in patients with clinically different cancer stages.

 Figure 8 

Kaplan-Meier curves of OS and CSS for patients with risk stratification quartering in the training cohort OS (A), CSS (B) and validation cohort OS (B), CSS (D).

To treat patients with LSCC effectively and accurately, prognostic factors that may influence survival are to be considered. Nowadays, AJCC stage of carcinoma of the larynx is mainly based on the anatomical location of the lymph nodes, without considering the number and ratio of the positive lymph nodes. However, the pLNR, LODDS, and NPLN were demonstrated as independent prognostic predictors previously, during the release of AJCC 7^th guidelines. We demonstrated that the NPLN, LODDS, and pLNR were independent predictors; pLNR has significant correlation, and LODDS combined with NPLN has a pivotal effect on the prognosis. Thus, future studies should focus on the prognostic value of LODDS and NPLN.

To our knowledge, this is the first new model that combines LODDS and NPLN to predict long-term survival in patients with LSCC. Previous research has focused on the comparison of the lymph node ratio [27]; we creatively incorporated the LODDS and NPLN in a prognosis model, which strengthened the TNM staging and utilized the valuable pathological evidence for surgery. We believe when compared with the other four models, LODDS + NPLN shows the most significant predictive potential, that is, the higher the value of LODDS with NPLN, the lower the value of OS and CSS. Future treatment strategies need to be studied for better patient survival.

We demonstrated that the patients who received radiotherapy were correlated with a better CSS or OS compared with those who were not treated with radiotherapy. Our results are consistent with the actual condition of the clinical treatment. Owing to sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, many patients opt for radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy in clinical practice [1]. Another interesting finding in our study was that the T stage had no influence on both the OS and CSS of patients. We believe this is because the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by a higher rate of lymph node metastasis; therefore, the degree of tumor invasion may have little impact on the prognosis of the disease [28-30]. Surprisingly, we found that marital status plays an important role in the disease prognosis, with married patients having higher cancer survival rates than unmarried patients [31]. For other cancers, such as lung, pancreatic, and breast cancers, married patients also had a better prognosis than unmarried patients [31, 32]. However, the effects of the correlation between long-term survival and other subtypes of marital status require further research.

Finally, based on the LODDS + NPLN model, two kinds of convincing nomograms with high C-indexes were established, which were verified by bootstrap technology internally and calibration curve externally. The prediction of the OS and CSS with the column line shows a good calibration diagram. The nomogram consists of a number of readily available prognostic factors that can help physicians assess the risk of death, counsel patients, and make decisions. Therefore, patients with poor survival who might need more aggressive treatment, which includes both chemotherapy and radiation, can be identified based on the nomogram.

Our study also has certain limitations. First, the SEER database lacks several potential prognostic factors, for instance, the specific chemotherapy regimen, tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, etc. Second, since this was a population study, we could not use a unified counting method, which could lead to the underestimation of lymph nodes when they adhered to each other or were difficult to separate from the anatomical tissue, and the overestimation of lymph nodes in the case of lymphatics. Third, no relapse-free survival was recorded in the SEER database. Finally, only the patients from the United States are included in the SEER database currently, which, while rich, may not be an ideal representation of the patients in other regions.

Conclusions

We confirmed that LODDS combined with NPLN was superior to pLNR, LODDS, NPLN, and pLNR combined with NPLN in predicting the survival prognosis of patients undergoing laryngeal surgery. A dynamic nomograph including TNM was constructed, supplemented by LODDS and NPLN to assess both the OS and CSS. These nomograms could help doctors provide efficient and more personalized treatment for patients with laryngeal cancer.

Abbreviations

LSCC: laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; AJCC: American Joint Commission on Cancer; TNM: tumor, lymph node, metastasis; LODDS: logarithmic ratio of positive lymph nodes; NPLN: number of positive lymph nodes; pLNR: number of lymph nodes to positive lymph nodes; SEER: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result; ICD-O-3: International Classification of Disease for Oncology; OS: overall survival; CSS: cancer-specific survival; AIC: Akaike Information Criterion; C-index: Harrell's concordance index; IDI: integrated discrimination improvement; NRI: net reclassification index.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary figure.

Acknowledgements

This work was kindly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Zhejiang Joint Fund under Grant No. U20A20382; National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81872170, 81602349 and 82003189); Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant Nos.: LY20H310001 and LYQ20H310001); Medical and Health Research Program of Zhejiang Province (Grant Nos.: 2021KY040, 2019KY559, 2019KY047 and 2021KY055); “10000 Talents Plan” of Zhejiang Province (to Minghua Ge and Ping Huang); Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. 2021C03081); Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of 151 Talents (to Ping Huang), Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of High-Level Innovative Health Talents (to Ping Huang); Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of New Health Talents (to Yiwen Zhang).

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding authors: Minghua Ge, Yiwen Zhang, E-mail: zjzyw2003com (Y. Zhang), geminghuaedu.cn (M. Ge).

Received 2021-9-22
Accepted 2022-2-6
Published 2022-3-14

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