Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio, Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor Microemboli as Predictors of Thrombosis in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Review Data

Q: Is the topic relevant to the journal area of interest? Is it contemporary and interesting for

researchers?

A: Very good

Abstract & Keywords

Q: Are all required components included in the abstract? Are the keywords appropriately chosen?

A: Excellent

Goal

Q: Is the goal explicitly stated in the Introduction? Is its formulation clear and unambiguous?

A: Very good

Structure

Q: Is the paper's structure coherent? Is it in coherence with the goal of the paper?

A: Good

Tools and Methods

Q: Are methods the author uses adequate and well used?

A: Very good

Discussion & Conclusion

Q: Is it related to the results presented before? Do you consider them as coherent?

A: Very good

Comments:

This study aims to evaluate the correlations of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM), with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The study is well designed and executed. The Methods and Results are adequately described. The Discussion offers a thorough and detailed analysis of the findings of the present study taking all the relevant literature into account. The study is well supported with briefly explained figures and tables. The findings suggest that CTCs at the second assessment (CTC2), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and VTE have roles in metastasis, leading to treatment failure and poor progression-free survival (PFS). The study finally summaries from the results that PLR has the potential to constitute new prognostic biomarker with the advantage of being easy, feasible and of low cost.

Literature

Q: Does the author utilize relevant literature?

A: Good

Author's knowledge

Q: What is the level of the author’s knowledge? Does the author utilize all recent contributions relevant to the topic?

A: Good

Length

Q: Is the length of the paper adequate to the significance of the topic? Do you suggest shortening the paper without losing its value?

A: Good

Figures & Tables

Q: Does the author use them suitably? Are legend and notations clear?

A: Very good

Writing style

Q: Is it clear and understandable?

A: Very good

Further comments on the paper

Comments: This study proposes a combination analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) to evaluate their utility in the risk stratification of thrombosis in patients with gastric cancer. The study holds significance as it is one of the very first to find that PLR, CTC2, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) in gastric cancer. Currently, there are no accurate risk assessment tools to predict venous thromboembolism. The findings of this study reinforce the difficulty to foresee which cancer patients will develop VTE. A limited number of patients only with gastric cancer and different timepoints of CTC1 and CTC2 depending on whether the disease was localized or metastatic come out as some of the limitations of this study.

Q: Would you recommend this manuscript for further publication?

A: Yes - Suitable to be published

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Science Repository Team