Endocrinol Metab.  2024 Oct;39(5):803-812. 10.3803/EnM.2024.2086.

The Modified S-GRAS Scoring System for Prognosis in Korean with Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 3Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 4Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
  • 5Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
  • 6Lunit, Seoul, Korea
  • 7Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 8Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 9Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 10Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background
Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare tumors with aggressive but varied prognosis. Stage, Grade, Resection status, Age, Symptoms (S-GRAS) score, based on clinical and pathological factors, was found to best stratify the prognosis of European ACC patients. This study assessed the prognostic performance of modified S-GRAS (mS-GRAS) scores including modified grade (mG) by integrating mitotic counts into the Ki67 index (original grade), in Korean ACC patients.
Methods
Patients who underwent surgery for ACC between January 1996 and December 2022 at three medical centers in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. mS-GRAS scores were calculated based on tumor stage, mG (Ki67 index or mitotic counts), resection status, age, and symptoms. Patients were divided into four groups (0–1, 2–3, 4–5, and 6–9 points) based on total mS-GRAS score. The associations of each variable and mS-GRAS score with recurrence and survival were evaluated using Cox regression analysis, Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), and the Kaplan–Meier method.
Results
Data on mS-GRAS components were available for 114 of the 153 patients who underwent surgery for ACC. These 114 patients had recurrence and death rates of 61.4% and 48.2%, respectively. mS-GRAS score was a significantly better predictor of recurrence (C-index=0.829) and death (C-index=0.747) than each component (P<0.05), except for resection status. mS-GRAS scores correlated with shorter progression-free survival (P=8.34E-24) and overall survival (P=2.72E-13).
Conclusion
mS-GRAS scores showed better prognostic performance than tumor stage and grade in Asian patients who underwent surgery for ACC.

Keyword

Adrenocortical carcinoma; Prognosis; Survival analysis; Recurrence

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Kaplan–Meier analyses of (A) progression-free survival and (B) overall survival according to modified Stage, Grade, Resection status, Age, Symptom (mS-GRAS) score grouping in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma who underwent adrenalectomy (n=114). Components of the mS-GRAS score included European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumour (ENSAT) stage (S), modified grading (modified G), resection status (R), age (A), and tumor- or hormone-related symptoms (S).


Reference

1. Kebebew E, Reiff E, Duh QY, Clark OH, McMillan A. Extent of disease at presentation and outcome for adrenocortical carcinoma: have we made progress? World J Surg. 2006; 30:872–8.
Article
2. Kerkhofs TM, Verhoeven RH, Van der Zwan JM, Dieleman J, Kerstens MN, Links TP, et al. Adrenocortical carcinoma: a population-based study on incidence and survival in the Netherlands since 1993. Eur J Cancer. 2013; 49:2579–86.
Article
3. National Cancer Center. Annual report of cancer statistics in Korea in 2019 [Internet]. Goyang: National Cancer Center;2021. [cited 2024 Sep 5]. Available from: http://ncc.re.kr/cancerStatsList.ncc?searchKey=total&searchValue=&pageNum=1.
4. Else T, Williams AR, Sabolch A, Jolly S, Miller BS, Hammer GD. Adjuvant therapies and patient and tumor characteristics associated with survival of adult patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014; 99:455–61.
Article
5. Fassnacht M, Johanssen S, Quinkler M, Bucsky P, Willenberg HS, Beuschlein F, et al. Limited prognostic value of the 2004 International Union Against Cancer staging classification for adrenocortical carcinoma: proposal for a Revised TNM Classification. Cancer. 2009; 115:243–50.
Article
6. Lim JS, Lee SE, Kim JH, Kim JH. Characteristics of adrenocortical carcinoma in South Korea: a registry-based nationwide survey. Endocr Connect. 2020; 9:519–29.
Article
7. Calabrese A, Basile V, Puglisi S, Perotti P, Pia A, Saba L, et al. Adjuvant mitotane therapy is beneficial in non-metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma at high risk of recurrence. Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; 180:387–96.
Article
8. Fassnacht M, Dekkers OM, Else T, Baudin E, Berruti A, de Krijger R, et al. European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guidelines on the management of adrenocortical carcinoma in adults, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors. Eur J Endocrinol. 2018; 179:G1–46.
Article
9. Terzolo M, Fassnacht M. Endocrine tumours: our experience with the management of patients with non-metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. Eur J Endocrinol. 2022; 187:R27–40.
Article
10. Lughezzani G, Sun M, Perrotte P, Jeldres C, Alasker A, Isbarn H, et al. The European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors staging system is prognostically superior to the international union against cancer-staging system: a North American validation. Eur J Cancer. 2010; 46:713–9.
Article
11. Erdogan I, Deutschbein T, Jurowich C, Kroiss M, Ronchi C, Quinkler M, et al. The role of surgery in the management of recurrent adrenocortical carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013; 98:181–91.
Article
12. Johanssen S, Hahner S, Saeger W, Quinkler M, Beuschlein F, Dralle H, et al. Deficits in the management of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma in Germany. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2010; 107:885–91.
Article
13. Margonis GA, Kim Y, Prescott JD, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, et al. Adrenocortical carcinoma: impact of surgical margin status on long-term outcomes. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016; 23:134–41.
Article
14. Beuschlein F, Weigel J, Saeger W, Kroiss M, Wild V, Daffara F, et al. Major prognostic role of Ki67 in localized adrenocortical carcinoma after complete resection. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015; 100:841–9.
Article
15. Else T, Kim AC, Sabolch A, Raymond VM, Kandathil A, Caoili EM, et al. Adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Rev. 2014; 35:282–326.
Article
16. Fassnacht M, Assie G, Baudin E, Eisenhofer G, de la Fouchardiere C, Haak HR, et al. Adrenocortical carcinomas and malignant phaeochromocytomas: ESMO-EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2020; 31:1476–90.
Article
17. Abiven G, Coste J, Groussin L, Anract P, Tissier F, Legmann P, et al. Clinical and biological features in the prognosis of adrenocortical cancer: poor outcome of cortisol-secreting tumors in a series of 202 consecutive patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006; 91:2650–5.
Article
18. Berruti A, Fassnacht M, Haak H, Else T, Baudin E, Sperone P, et al. Prognostic role of overt hypercortisolism in completely operated patients with adrenocortical cancer. Eur Urol. 2014; 65:832–8.
Article
19. Vanbrabant T, Fassnacht M, Assie G, Dekkers OM. Influence of hormonal functional status on survival in adrenocortical carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2018; 179:429–36.
Article
20. Assie G, Antoni G, Tissier F, Caillou B, Abiven G, Gicquel C, et al. Prognostic parameters of metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 92:148–54.
Article
21. Margonis GA, Kim Y, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Wang TS, et al. Outcomes after resection of cortisol-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. Am J Surg. 2016; 211:1106–13.
Article
22. Libe R, Borget I, Ronchi CL, Zaggia B, Kroiss M, Kerkhofs T, et al. Prognostic factors in stage III-IV adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC): an European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumor (ENSAT) study. Ann Oncol. 2015; 26:2119–25.
Article
23. Lippert J, Appenzeller S, Liang R, Sbiera S, Kircher S, Altieri B, et al. Targeted molecular analysis in adrenocortical carcinomas: a strategy toward improved personalized prognostication. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103:4511–23.
Article
24. Elhassan YS, Altieri B, Berhane S, Cosentini D, Calabrese A, Haissaguerre M, et al. S-GRAS score for prognostic classification of adrenocortical carcinoma: an international, multicenter ENSAT study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2021; 186:25–36.
Article
25. Mete O, Erickson LA, Juhlin CC, de Krijger RR, Sasano H, Volante M, et al. Overview of the 2022 WHO classification of adrenal cortical tumors. Endocr Pathol. 2022; 33:155–96.
Article
26. Harrell FE Jr, Califf RM, Pryor DB, Lee KL, Rosati RA. Evaluating the yield of medical tests. JAMA. 1982; 247:2543–6.
Article
27. Weiss LM, Medeiros LJ, Vickery AL Jr. Pathologic features of prognostic significance in adrenocortical carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 1989; 13:202–6.
Article
28. Lin W, Dai J, Xie J, Liu J, Sun F, Huang X, et al. S-GRAS score performs better than a model from SEER for patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocr Connect. 2022; 11:e220114.
Article
29. Fassnacht M, Kroiss M, Allolio B. Update in adrenocortical carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013; 98:4551–64.
Article
30. Reibetanz J, Jurowich C, Erdogan I, Nies C, Rayes N, Dralle H, et al. Impact of lymphadenectomy on the oncologic outcome of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. Ann Surg. 2012; 255:363–9.
Article
31. Asare EA, Wang TS, Winchester DP, Mallin K, Kebebew E, Sturgeon C. A novel staging system for adrenocortical carcinoma better predicts survival in patients with stage I/II disease. Surgery. 2014; 156:1378–86.
Article
32. Tang Y, Liu Z, Zou Z, Liang J, Lu Y, Zhu Y. Benefits of adjuvant mitotane after resection of adrenocortical carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2018; 2018:9362108.
Article
33. Bedrose S, Daher M, Altameemi L, Habra MA. Adjuvant therapy in adrenocortical carcinoma: reflections and future directions. Cancers (Basel). 2020; 12:508.
Article
34. Terzolo M, Fassnacht M, Perotti P, Libe R, Kastelan D, Lacroix A, et al. Adjuvant mitotane versus surveillance in low-grade, localised adrenocortical carcinoma (ADIUVO): an international, multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial and observational study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023; 11:720–30.
Article
Full Text Links
  • ENM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2025 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr