Title: Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall survival and cancer-
specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: a population-based
study
Version: 1 Date: 25 Oct 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors reported “Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall
survival and cancer-specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer:
a population-based study.” The authors concluded that the novel validated nomogram could
accurately predict the prognosis of individual elderly patients with LAGC, and guiding the
selection of the clinical treatment measures.
However, there are many problems in this paper, I think.
1. The authors should present the #-coefficient value in the Tables (Cox multivariable Table).
#-coefficient is the most important value, with which nomogram can be constructed.
2. From the graphical viewpoint, the graphical presentation of nomogram is uncommon. X axis
should be started Zero point in each variable.
3. I think continuous variables (age, tumor size, LNR) should be modeled as (3-knot) restricted
cubic splines for potential nonlinear effect. Harrell’s guideline (Harrell FE. Regression Modeling
Strategies: With Applications to Linear Models, Logistic Regression, and Survival Analysis.
2nd edition. New York: Springer; 2015) emphasized avoiding the categorization of continuous
variables because some categorical variables are subjective and hard to standardize and do not
contain the same amount of statistical information as continuous variables.
4. The authors should discuss the clinical value of the results of decision curve analysis.
5. From the Figure legends of Figure 4, LNR means tumor size and lymph node ratios. I cannot
understand it.
6. What is “ROC cure” in Figure 6?
Title: Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall survival and cancer-
specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: a population-based
study
Version: 1 Date: 25 Oct 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors reported “Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall
survival and cancer-specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer:
a population-based study.” The authors concluded that the novel validated nomogram could
accurately predict the prognosis of individual elderly patients with LAGC, and guiding the
selection of the clinical treatment measures.
However, there are many problems in this paper, I think.
1. The authors should present the #-coefficient value in the Tables (Cox multivariable Table).
#-coefficient is the most important value, with which nomogram can be constructed.
2. From the graphical viewpoint, the graphical presentation of nomogram is uncommon. X axis
should be started Zero point in each variable.
3. I think continuous variables (age, tumor size, LNR) should be modeled as (3-knot) restricted
cubic splines for potential nonlinear effect. Harrell’s guideline (Harrell FE. Regression Modeling
Strategies: With Applications to Linear Models, Logistic Regression, and Survival Analysis.
2nd edition. New York: Springer; 2015) emphasized avoiding the categorization of continuous
variables because some categorical variables are subjective and hard to standardize and do not
contain the same amount of statistical information as continuous variables.
4. The authors should discuss the clinical value of the results of decision curve analysis.
5. From the Figure legends of Figure 4, LNR means tumor size and lymph node ratios. I cannot
understand it.
6. What is “ROC cure” in Figure 6?
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall survival and cancer-
specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: a population-based
study
Version: 1 Date: 25 Oct 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors reported “Development and validation of nomograms for predicting overall
survival and cancer-specific survival in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer:
a population-based study.” The authors concluded that the novel validated nomogram could
accurately predict the prognosis of individual elderly patients with LAGC, and guiding the
selection of the clinical treatment measures.
However, there are many problems in this paper, I think.
1. The authors should present the #-coefficient value in the Tables (Cox multivariable Table).
#-coefficient is the most important value, with which nomogram can be constructed.
2. From the graphical viewpoint, the graphical presentation of nomogram is uncommon. X axis
should be started Zero point in each variable.
3. I think continuous variables (age, tumor size, LNR) should be modeled as (3-knot) restricted
cubic splines for potential nonlinear effect. Harrell’s guideline (Harrell FE. Regression Modeling
Strategies: With Applications to Linear Models, Logistic Regression, and Survival Analysis.
2nd edition. New York: Springer; 2015) emphasized avoiding the categorization of continuous
variables because some categorical variables are subjective and hard to standardize and do not
contain the same amount of statistical information as continuous variables.
4. The authors should discuss the clinical value of the results of decision curve analysis.
5. From the Figure legends of Figure 4, LNR means tumor size and lymph node ratios. I cannot
understand it.
6. What is “ROC cure” in Figure 6?
assistant