Reviewer's report
Title:CD44 but not CD24 expressions are related to poor prognosis in gastric
cancer
Version:1Date:20 March 2014
Reviewer: Baek-hui Kim
Reviewer's report:
In this manuscript, authors examined immunohistochemical expression of CD44
and CD24 in gastric cancer tissues. And authors showed that CD44 expression
was associated with poor prognosis.
I have some comments on this manuscripts.
Major compulsory revisions
1. In the conclusion of abstract, authors suggesting that 'CD44 might play
important role in the gastric carcinogenesis'. But, in this study, authors only
analyzed immunohistochemical expression and clinicopathologic data. Gastric
carcinogenesis seems not proper term as a result of this study.
2. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 1
' ......290 gastric cancer patients......'
More clarification is needed what type of cancer patients are enrolled in this
study. Does gastric cancer includes adenosquamous, squamous,
neuroendocrine tumor, GISTs, or others? or only adenocarcinomas?
3. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 6 and table 1
'The diagnosis of .......to the World Health Organization criteria.'
More precise description of which WHO criteria was used in this study is needed.
WHO GI published on 2010 or earlier editions. In the table 1, all cancers are
divided into well, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinoma. Mucinous,
poorly cohesive, and undifferentiated carcinomas are excluded in this study?
4. Paticipants includes many cases with TNM stage IV (n=33, 11%). According to
the AJCC 7th edition, stage IV means presence of distant metastasis.
Clarification of which staging system was used in this study is recommended. (In
the table 1, numbers of patients with stage IV (n=33) and distant metastasis
(n=36) are different.). And, whether all patients in this study was radical surgery
group or some palliative group was included is important information for readers.
Comments on type of lymph node dissection (D1, D1+, D2), margin status,
post-op chemotherapy would also be helpful.
5. Explanation about determining cut-off value of CD24 and CD44 as H-score of
30 would be helpful to readers. Arbitrary cut-off or median value or other
reference?
6. In the discussion section (page 10, line13), there is comment about
cytoplasmic expression of CD24. Was there no expression of CD24 in
cytoplasm? Only membrane and nuclear expression was noted in the results.
Minor essential revisions
1. page 6, line 6
4um in width -> 4um in thickeness
2. page 8, line 7
than without infiltration -> than without invasion
Discretionary Revisions
1. Explanation about why H. pylori study is conducted in the introduction section
would be more helpfut to readers
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:CD44 but not CD24 expressions are related to poor prognosis in gastric
cancer
Version:1Date:20 March 2014
Reviewer: Baek-hui Kim
Reviewer's report:
In this manuscript, authors examined immunohistochemical expression of CD44
and CD24 in gastric cancer tissues. And authors showed that CD44 expression
was associated with poor prognosis.
I have some comments on this manuscripts.
Major compulsory revisions
1. In the conclusion of abstract, authors suggesting that 'CD44 might play
important role in the gastric carcinogenesis'. But, in this study, authors only
analyzed immunohistochemical expression and clinicopathologic data. Gastric
carcinogenesis seems not proper term as a result of this study.
2. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 1
' ......290 gastric cancer patients......'
More clarification is needed what type of cancer patients are enrolled in this
study. Does gastric cancer includes adenosquamous, squamous,
neuroendocrine tumor, GISTs, or others? or only adenocarcinomas?
3. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 6 and table 1
'The diagnosis of .......to the World Health Organization criteria.'
More precise description of which WHO criteria was used in this study is needed.
WHO GI published on 2010 or earlier editions. In the table 1, all cancers are
divided into well, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinoma. Mucinous,
poorly cohesive, and undifferentiated carcinomas are excluded in this study?
4. Paticipants includes many cases with TNM stage IV (n=33, 11%). According to
the AJCC 7th edition, stage IV means presence of distant metastasis.
Clarification of which staging system was used in this study is recommended. (In
the table 1, numbers of patients with stage IV (n=33) and distant metastasis
(n=36) are different.). And, whether all patients in this study was radical surgery
group or some palliative group was included is important information for readers.
Comments on type of lymph node dissection (D1, D1+, D2), margin status,
post-op chemotherapy would also be helpful.
5. Explanation about determining cut-off value of CD24 and CD44 as H-score of
30 would be helpful to readers. Arbitrary cut-off or median value or other
reference?
6. In the discussion section (page 10, line13), there is comment about
cytoplasmic expression of CD24. Was there no expression of CD24 in
cytoplasm? Only membrane and nuclear expression was noted in the results.
Minor essential revisions
1. page 6, line 6
4um in width -> 4um in thickeness
2. page 8, line 7
than without infiltration -> than without invasion
Discretionary Revisions
1. Explanation about why H. pylori study is conducted in the introduction section
would be more helpfut to readers
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:CD44 but not CD24 expressions are related to poor prognosis in gastric
cancer
Version:1Date:20 March 2014
Reviewer: Baek-hui Kim
Reviewer's report:
In this manuscript, authors examined immunohistochemical expression of CD44
and CD24 in gastric cancer tissues. And authors showed that CD44 expression
was associated with poor prognosis.
I have some comments on this manuscripts.
Major compulsory revisions
1. In the conclusion of abstract, authors suggesting that 'CD44 might play
important role in the gastric carcinogenesis'. But, in this study, authors only
analyzed immunohistochemical expression and clinicopathologic data. Gastric
carcinogenesis seems not proper term as a result of this study.
2. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 1
' ......290 gastric cancer patients......'
More clarification is needed what type of cancer patients are enrolled in this
study. Does gastric cancer includes adenosquamous, squamous,
neuroendocrine tumor, GISTs, or others? or only adenocarcinomas?
3. Materials and Methods - Participants - line 6 and table 1
'The diagnosis of .......to the World Health Organization criteria.'
More precise description of which WHO criteria was used in this study is needed.
WHO GI published on 2010 or earlier editions. In the table 1, all cancers are
divided into well, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinoma. Mucinous,
poorly cohesive, and undifferentiated carcinomas are excluded in this study?
4. Paticipants includes many cases with TNM stage IV (n=33, 11%). According to
the AJCC 7th edition, stage IV means presence of distant metastasis.
Clarification of which staging system was used in this study is recommended. (In
the table 1, numbers of patients with stage IV (n=33) and distant metastasis
(n=36) are different.). And, whether all patients in this study was radical surgery
group or some palliative group was included is important information for readers.
Comments on type of lymph node dissection (D1, D1+, D2), margin status,
post-op chemotherapy would also be helpful.
5. Explanation about determining cut-off value of CD24 and CD44 as H-score of
30 would be helpful to readers. Arbitrary cut-off or median value or other
reference?
6. In the discussion section (page 10, line13), there is comment about
cytoplasmic expression of CD24. Was there no expression of CD24 in
cytoplasm? Only membrane and nuclear expression was noted in the results.
Minor essential revisions
1. page 6, line 6
4um in width -> 4um in thickeness
2. page 8, line 7
than without infiltration -> than without invasion
Discretionary Revisions
1. Explanation about why H. pylori study is conducted in the introduction section
would be more helpfut to readers
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
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