Reviewer's report
Title:Prognostic prediction across a gradient of total tumor volume in patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy
Version: 1Date:30 March 2010
Reviewer: Christian Toso
Reviewer's report:
This study is looking at predicting survival of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy with the use of Total Tumor Volume.
The study is well designed and the manuscript well written.
Several modifications are required:
- abstract: the authors state that TTV is a new parameter, while at least to papers
have been published on similar topics (for HCC and colo-rectal metastasis):
Ercolani et al. Arch Surg 2002 and Toso et al, Hepatology 2009
- page 6: please provide the end date of the survey.
- page 6: How many patients did have a biopsy?
- page 7: "Minimal values were set to 1.0 for calculation purposes." please be
more precise. Which values are you refering to?
- page 9: Adjusted survivals were assessed using the multivariable Cox
proportional hazards model. What were they adjusted for?
- page 10: "Distribution and association of TTV and number and size of tumor
nodule" The Total Tumor Volume is calculated based on tumor size and number.
As a consequence TTV will increase with larger or more numerous HCCs. This
paragraph, as well as Tbale 2 do not bring significant information. I would
suggest removing them.
- page 10: The data provided in Figure 1 is very interesting. Did the authors find
simiar relationship between TTV and histological grade? (in the patients with
biopsy)
- page 11: Please clarify: was TTV an independent predictor of survival in the
multivariate Cx analysis model?
- page 11: Please compare the CLIP and the modified CLIP scores to predict
survival. Which one is more accurate?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Prognostic prediction across a gradient of total tumor volume in patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy
Version: 1Date:30 March 2010
Reviewer: Christian Toso
Reviewer's report:
This study is looking at predicting survival of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy with the use of Total Tumor Volume.
The study is well designed and the manuscript well written.
Several modifications are required:
- abstract: the authors state that TTV is a new parameter, while at least to papers
have been published on similar topics (for HCC and colo-rectal metastasis):
Ercolani et al. Arch Surg 2002 and Toso et al, Hepatology 2009
- page 6: please provide the end date of the survey.
- page 6: How many patients did have a biopsy?
- page 7: "Minimal values were set to 1.0 for calculation purposes." please be
more precise. Which values are you refering to?
- page 9: Adjusted survivals were assessed using the multivariable Cox
proportional hazards model. What were they adjusted for?
- page 10: "Distribution and association of TTV and number and size of tumor
nodule" The Total Tumor Volume is calculated based on tumor size and number.
As a consequence TTV will increase with larger or more numerous HCCs. This
paragraph, as well as Tbale 2 do not bring significant information. I would
suggest removing them.
- page 10: The data provided in Figure 1 is very interesting. Did the authors find
simiar relationship between TTV and histological grade? (in the patients with
biopsy)
- page 11: Please clarify: was TTV an independent predictor of survival in the
multivariate Cx analysis model?
- page 11: Please compare the CLIP and the modified CLIP scores to predict
survival. Which one is more accurate?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Prognostic prediction across a gradient of total tumor volume in patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy
Version: 1Date:30 March 2010
Reviewer: Christian Toso
Reviewer's report:
This study is looking at predicting survival of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy with the use of Total Tumor Volume.
The study is well designed and the manuscript well written.
Several modifications are required:
- abstract: the authors state that TTV is a new parameter, while at least to papers
have been published on similar topics (for HCC and colo-rectal metastasis):
Ercolani et al. Arch Surg 2002 and Toso et al, Hepatology 2009
- page 6: please provide the end date of the survey.
- page 6: How many patients did have a biopsy?
- page 7: "Minimal values were set to 1.0 for calculation purposes." please be
more precise. Which values are you refering to?
- page 9: Adjusted survivals were assessed using the multivariable Cox
proportional hazards model. What were they adjusted for?
- page 10: "Distribution and association of TTV and number and size of tumor
nodule" The Total Tumor Volume is calculated based on tumor size and number.
As a consequence TTV will increase with larger or more numerous HCCs. This
paragraph, as well as Tbale 2 do not bring significant information. I would
suggest removing them.
- page 10: The data provided in Figure 1 is very interesting. Did the authors find
simiar relationship between TTV and histological grade? (in the patients with
biopsy)
- page 11: Please clarify: was TTV an independent predictor of survival in the
multivariate Cx analysis model?
- page 11: Please compare the CLIP and the modified CLIP scores to predict
survival. Which one is more accurate?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
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