Table 2.
Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis of the association of patient factors and ECM biomarkers with progression-free survival (PFS)
| Factor | Test variable | Events/total cases | Univariate | P value | Events/Total cases |
Multivariate Adjusted for LDH |
P value |
| HR (95% CI) | HR (95% CI) | ||||||
| Gender | Male vs female | 40/62 vs 26/44 | 1.14 (0.69 to 1.86) | 0.611 | |||
| Age | Continuous (year) | 66/106 | 1.00 (0.99 to 1.02) | 0.744 | |||
| WHO | >1 vs 0 | 27/37 vs 39/69 | 1.60 (0.98 to 2.62) | 0.061 | |||
| Brain metastasis | Present vs absent | 12/18 vs 33/47 | 1.00 (0.52 to 1.94) | 0.997 | |||
| LDH | Continuous (U/L) | 66/106 | 1.00 (1.00 to 1.00) | 0.014* | |||
| PRO-C3 | Continuous (ng/mL) | 66/106 | 1.02 (1.00 to 1.04) | 0.031* | |||
| 4.0–12.5 ng/mL, Q1-–Q3 | 45/79 | 1.00 | – | 45/79 | |||
| 12.6–84.7 ng/mL, Q4 | 21/27 | 1.96 (1.17 to 3.30) | 0.011* | 21/27 | 1.81 (1.06 to 3.10) | 0.030* | |
| PC3X | Continuous (ng/mL) | 66/10644/79 | 1.04 (1.00 to 1.07) | 0.046* | |||
| 1.2–7.6 ng/mL, Q1-–Q3 | 1.00 | – | 44/79 | ||||
| 7.6–30.2 ng/mL, Q4 | 22/27 | 2.05 (1.23 to 3.43) | 0.006** | 22/27 | 1.86 (1.09 to 3.18) | 0.023* | |
| C4G | Continuous (ng/mL) | 65/105 | 1.01 (1.00 to 1.02) | 0.019* | |||
| 7.8–27.3 ng/mL, Q1-–Q3 | 44/79 | 1.00 | – | 44/79 | |||
| 27.4–125.7 ng/mL, Q4 | 21/26 | 1.93 (1.15 to 3.26) | 0.014* | 21/26 | 1.91 (1.13 to 3.23) | 0.016* | |
| C3M | Continuous (ng/mL) | 66/106 | 1.04 (1.00 to 1.09) | 0.038* | |||
| 8.2–19.5 ng/mL, Q1–Q3 | 45/79 | 1.00 | – | 45/79 | |||
| 19.6–36.0 ng/mL, Q4 | 21/27 | 1.75 (1.04 to 2.93) | 0.036* | 21/27 | 1.67 (0.99 to 2.82) | 0.054 | |
| C4M | Continuous (ng/mL) | 66/106 | 1.01 (1.00 to 1.03) | 0.158 | |||
| 8.8–38.0 ng/mL, Q1–Q3 | 47/79 | 1.00 | – | 47/79 | |||
| 38.8–87.1 ng/mL, Q4 | 19/27 | 1.29 (0.76 to 2.20) | 0.349 | 19/27 | 1.19 (0.69 to 2.04) | 0.532 | |
| VICM | Continuous (ng/mL) | 66/106 | 1.01 (1.00 to 1.02) | 0.121 | |||
| 1.0–23.4 ng/mL, Q1–Q3 | 48/79 | 1.00 | – | 48/79 | |||
| 23.7–132.3 ng/mL, Q4 | 18/27 | 1.16 (0.67 to 1.99) | 0.602 | 18/27 | 1.27 (0.73 to 2.20) | 0.401 | |
| C3M/PRO-C3 | >1 vs <1 | 51/88 vs 15/18 | 0.51 (0.29 to 0.91) | 0.023* | 51/88 vs 15/18 | 0.59 (0.32 to 1.11) | 0.102 |
HR were calculated by univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis. By the multivariate analysis, the individual biomarkers were adjusted for LDH. Significance is marked with stars.
C4G, granzyme B-degraded type IV collagen; C3M, C4M, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-degraded type III and IV collagen; ECM, extracellular matrix; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; PC3X, cross-linked N-terminal pro-peptide of type III collagen; PRO-C3, N-terminal pro-peptide of type III collagen; VICM, citrullinated and MMP-degraded vimentin; WHO, WHO performance score.