The Prognostic Value of Histological Tumor Necrosis in Solid Organ Malignant Disease: a Systematic Review

Background: Tumor necrosis has been proposed as a marker of poor prognosis in a variety of solid organ malignant tumor types. Despite this, its assessment has yet to be adopted into routine clinical practice and the mechanisms underpinning the relationships with cancer outcome are undetermined.

Aims: To examine the prognostic value of tumor necrosis in solid organ malignant disease and to summarize the known clinical, pathological and inflammatory associations.

Methods: A systematic review of data published from 1966-2011 was undertaken by two reviewers according to a predefined protocol. A total of 57 independent studies relating to renal (n = 23), breast (n = 13), lung (n = 7), colorectal (n = 5) and other solid tumors (n = 9) were included in the final review.

Conclusion: There is now a substantial body of evidence confirming the prognostic value of tumor necrosis in solid organ malignant disease. There are consistent associations between necrosis and the presence of other high-risk tumor characteristics but the survival impact appears to be independent of pathological stage. We propose that relationships with the host inflammatory response, both local and systemic, may explain the influence of tumor necrosis on cancer outcome.