A nomogram for individually predicting the overall survival in colonic adenocarcinoma patients presenting with perineural invasion: a population study based on SEER database.

BACKGROUND

Colonic adenocarcinoma, representing the predominant histological subtype of neoplasms in the colon, is commonly denoted as colon cancer. This study endeavors to develop and validate a nomogram model designed for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with colon cancer, specifically those presenting with perineural invasion (PNI).

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database supplied pertinent data spanning from 2010 to 2015, which facilitated the randomization of patients into distinct training and validation cohorts at a 7:3 ratio. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to construct a prognostic nomogram based on the training cohort. Subsequently, the nomogram's accuracy and efficacy were rigorously evaluated through the application of a concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

In the training cohorts, multivariable analysis identified age, grade, T-stage, N-stage, M-stage, chemotherapy, tumor size, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), marital status, and insurance as independent risk factors for OS, all with -values less than 0.05. Subsequently, a new nomogram was constructed. The C-index of this nomogram was 0.765 (95% CI: 0.755-0.775), outperforming the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system's C-index of 0.686 (95% CI: 0.674-0.698). Calibration plots for 3- and 5-year OS demonstrated good consistency, while DCA for 3- and 5-year OS revealed excellent clinical utility in the training cohorts. Comparable outcomes were observed in the validation cohorts. Furthermore, we developed a risk stratification system, which facilitated better differentiation among three risk groups (low, intermediate, and high) in terms of OS for all patients.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we have devised a robust nomogram and risk stratification system to accurately predict OS in colon cancer patients exhibiting PNI. This innovative tool offers valuable guidance for informed clinical decision-making, thereby enhancing patient care and management in oncology practice.