Hyams Grade and Ki-67 as Predictive Factors for Primary Treatment Failure in Olfactory Neuroblastoma

Tumor progression and first recurrence (TPR) after curative treatment for olfactory neuroblastoma can be regarded as primary treatment failure. Prognostic parameters for TPR and primary tumor-progression-free and recurrence-free survival (TPRFS) have not been sufficiently investigated in the literature.

Data for 43 patients were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate prognostic parameters for TPR after curative treatment for olfactory neuroblastoma: age, age < / ≥ 50 years, sex, tumor classifications, curative therapy (monotherapy vs. combined, R0 vs. R1/2/x resection), Hyams-grade (grades, grade I-II/III-IV), and Ki-67 labeling index (values, labeling index < / ≥ 10%). The primary endpoints were TPR and TPRFS. Parameters that were significant after univariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were included in multiple regression and Cox regression analysis.

After univariate analysis, younger age (p = 0.032) and higher Ki-67 values (p = 0.001) were significantly negatively associated with time to the development of TPR. TPRFS according to Kaplan-Meier was significantly poorer with Hyams-grade III-IV (p = 0.002) and Ki-67 ≥ 10% (p = 0.001). After Cox regression analysis, TPRFS according to Kaplan-Meier was weekly significantly poorer for younger age (p = 0.033) and highly significantly worse for Hyams-grade III-IV (p = 0.005) and a Ki-67 LI ≥ 10% (p = 0.009). Tumor-stage classifications and all therapeutical parameters were not significantly associated with TPRFS.

Out of a panel of parameters tested, younger age, Hyams-grade III-IV, and a Ki-67 LI ≥ 10% were significantly associated with a significantly worse TPRFS after multivariate Cox regression analysis. In particular, parameters such as Hyams-grade and the Ki-67 LI should be included in management considerations in olfactory neuroblastoma at an early stage.