Title: A combined prediction model for biliary tract cancer using the prognostic nutritional index
and pathological findings: a single-center retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 16 Jul 2021
Reviewer's report:
This paper describes the usefulness of PNI as a prognostic factor for biliary tract cancer. This
paper is well-written and I agree with the importance of PNI as a prognostic factor. However, I
have several comments for this paper to improve manuscript.
1. PNI reflects patients’ preoperative status because this score is calculated from preoperative
blood sample data. Therefore, several factors in Table 2 (peri-operative factors such as blood
loss, transfusion, postoperative complications, etc) may not be related to this score.
2. The grouping of biliary tract cancer include a large group of diverse cancer (intrahepatic
and extrhepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer). These cancers are
reported to have different etiologies, different aggressive phenotypes and different therapeutic
responses. The analysis by sub-grouping of them should be provided.
3. How will the authors’ use PNI data for biliary cancer patients? Please discuss more
specifically.
Title: A combined prediction model for biliary tract cancer using the prognostic nutritional index
and pathological findings: a single-center retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 16 Jul 2021
Reviewer's report:
This paper describes the usefulness of PNI as a prognostic factor for biliary tract cancer. This
paper is well-written and I agree with the importance of PNI as a prognostic factor. However, I
have several comments for this paper to improve manuscript.
1. PNI reflects patients’ preoperative status because this score is calculated from preoperative
blood sample data. Therefore, several factors in Table 2 (peri-operative factors such as blood
loss, transfusion, postoperative complications, etc) may not be related to this score.
2. The grouping of biliary tract cancer include a large group of diverse cancer (intrahepatic
and extrhepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer). These cancers are
reported to have different etiologies, different aggressive phenotypes and different therapeutic
responses. The analysis by sub-grouping of them should be provided.
3. How will the authors’ use PNI data for biliary cancer patients? Please discuss more
specifically.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: A combined prediction model for biliary tract cancer using the prognostic nutritional index
and pathological findings: a single-center retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 16 Jul 2021
Reviewer's report:
This paper describes the usefulness of PNI as a prognostic factor for biliary tract cancer. This
paper is well-written and I agree with the importance of PNI as a prognostic factor. However, I
have several comments for this paper to improve manuscript.
1. PNI reflects patients’ preoperative status because this score is calculated from preoperative
blood sample data. Therefore, several factors in Table 2 (peri-operative factors such as blood
loss, transfusion, postoperative complications, etc) may not be related to this score.
2. The grouping of biliary tract cancer include a large group of diverse cancer (intrahepatic
and extrhepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer). These cancers are
reported to have different etiologies, different aggressive phenotypes and different therapeutic
responses. The analysis by sub-grouping of them should be provided.
3. How will the authors’ use PNI data for biliary cancer patients? Please discuss more
specifically.
assistant