Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0616-7 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  FBXW7 expression is associated with prognosis and chemotherapeutic outcome in 
Chinese patients with gastric adenocarcinoma  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Apr 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Traci  Testerman  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This is a large, well -designed study examining the role of FBXW7 expression in gastric cancer 
progressi on and response to chemotherapy.  The study clearly demonstrates that low FBXW7 
expression is associated with worse prognosis and worse response to chemotherapy.  Some 
clarifications and more analyses of the role of FBXW7 in chemotherapy response would fur ther 
strengthen the manuscript.  
 
 
Major comments:  
 
1.  In the results section, some clarification is required regarding the responses of the different 
patient groups to paclitaxel.  It should be stated that high FBXW7 patients respond better than 
low FBXW7 p atients.  When comparing the responses of both patient groups to the graph on the 
left, showing chemotherapy without paclitaxel, it is clear that paclitaxel doesn't give either group 
an advantage.  Patients with low FBXW7 appear to have fared worse on pacl itaxel than those not 
treated with any chemotherapy, suggesting that paclitaxel is contraindicated in that group.  Even 
the high FBXW7 patients appeared to benefit less from paclitaxel than from other therapeutic 
regimens.  Therefore, I think that it is mi sleading to use the term "better outcome" with regards 
to paclitaxel, since it implies that paclitaxel is superior to other therapies.  
 
 
Minor comments:  
 
1.  Adding percentages in the "low expression" and "high expression" columns of table 1 would 
make the d ata easier to visualize  
 
2.  At what time point was overall survival assessed?  Not all graph lines extend past 100 
months.  It isn't clear whether the study ended before later time points could be collected in some 
groups, whether some were lost to follow -up, or whether remaining patients died.  
 
3.  Could more be said about the relationship between low FBXW7 and chemotherapy response?  
Is the response of that population to paclitaxel significantly worse than low FBXW7 patients 
treated with other agents or no  chemotherapy at all, either at 5 years or later?  Is there a 
significant benefit of any therapy in that group?  
 
4.  There are a few minor typographical errors, such as "toan" instead of "to an".  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am a ble to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in a n organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimb ursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing in terests  
 
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