C-reactive protein/albumin ratio predicts survival after curative surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer

Prognostic Value of C-reactive Protein-to-albumin Ratio after Curative Resection in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Objectives

The current retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between combined preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, which is correlated with prognosis in different types of malignancies, and prognosis after curative resection in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods

This study enrolled 263 patients who underwent curative resection for stage II/III colorectal cancer. C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio was calculated within 30 days before and 7 days after surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine the optimal cutoff values of preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio. The correlations between combined preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and prognosis were analyzed.

Results

The cutoff values of preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio were 0.223 and 0.813, respectively; higher ratios were significantly associated with poor overall survival, based on the Kaplan-Meier curves (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). Further, preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratios were correlated with poor progression-free survival (p < 0.001, p = 0.064, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, combined preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio was an independent predictor of overall survival and progression-free survival (p = 0.012, p = 0.044, respectively). Compared with low preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, high ratios of that were significantly associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio = 3.897, p = 0.006) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.130, p = 0.029).

Conclusions

Combined preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, useful for prognostic prediction, can be a promising prognostic marker after curative resection in patients with colorectal cancer.

The association of blood biomarkers with treatment response and adverse health outcomes in older patients with solid tumors: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Blood biomarkers are potentially useful prognostic markers and may support treatment decisions, but it is unknown if and which biomarkers are most useful in older patients with solid tumors. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence on the association of blood biomarkers with treatment response and adverse health outcomes in older patients with solid tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted in five databases in December 2022 to identify studies on blood biomarkers measured before treatment initiation, not tumor specific, and outcomes in patients with solid tumors aged ≥60 years. Studies on any type or line of oncologic treatment could be included. Titles and abstracts were screened by three authors. Data extraction and quality assessment, using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) checklist, were performed by two authors.

RESULTS

Sixty-three studies were included, with a median sample size of 138 patients (Interquartile range [IQR] 99-244) aged 76 years (IQR 72-78). Most studies were retrospective cohort studies (63%). The risk of bias was moderate in 52% and high in 43%. Less than one-third reported geriatric parameters. Eighty-six percent examined mortality outcomes, 37% therapeutic response, and 37% adverse events. In total, 77 unique markers were studied in patients with a large variety of tumor types and treatment modalities. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (20 studies), albumin (19), C-reactive protein (16), hemoglobin (14) and (modified) Glasgow Prognostic Score ((m)GPS) (12) were studied most often. The vast majority showed no significant association of these biomarkers with outcomes, except for associations between low albumin and adverse events and high (m)GPS with mortality.

DISCUSSION

Most studies did not find a significant association between blood biomarkers and clinical outcomes. The interpretation of current evidence on prognostic blood biomarkers is hampered by small sample sizes and inconsistent results across heterogeneous studies. The choice for blood biomarkers in the majority of included studies seemed driven by availability in clinical practice in retrospective cohort studies. Ageing biomarkers are rarely studied in older patients with solid tumors. Further research is needed in larger and more homogenous cohorts that combine clinical parameters and biomarkers before these can be used in clinical practice.

Combination of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and time to castration resistance enhances prediction of prognosis for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Objective

This study aimed to identify the prediction accuracy of the combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) albumin ratio (CAR) and time to castration resistance (TTCR) for overall survival (OS) following development of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods

Clinical data from 98 mCRPC patients treated at our institution from 2009 to 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Optimal cutoff values for CAR and TTCR to predict lethality were generated by use of a receiver operating curve and Youden's index. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression models for OS were used to analyze the prognostic capabilities of CAR and TTCR. Multiple multivariate Cox models were then constructed based on univariate analysis and their accuracy was validated using the concordance index.

Results

The optimal cutoff values for CAR at the time of mCRPC diagnosis and TTCR were 0.48 and 12 months, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that patients with CAR >0.48 or TTCR <12 months had a significantly worse OS (both p < 0.005). Univariate analysis also identified age, hemoglobin, CRP, and performance status as candidate prognostic factors. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis model incorporating those factors and excluding CRP showed CAR and TTCR to be independent prognostic factors. This model had better prognostic accuracy as compared with that containing CRP instead of CAR. The results showed effective stratification of mCRPC patients in terms of OS based on CAR and TTCR (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Although further investigation is required, CAR and TTCR used in combination may more accurately predict mCRPC patient prognosis.

Prognostic Value of Combined Hematological/Biochemical Indexes and Tumor Clinicopathologic Features in Colorectal Cancer Patients—A Pilot Single Center Study

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health problem. There is increasing evidence that the host’s immune response and nutritional status play a role in the development and progression of cancer. The aim of our study was to examine the prognostic value of clinical markers/indexes of inflammation, nutritional and pathohistological status in relation to overall survival and disease free-survival in CRC. The total number of CRC patients included in the study was 111 and they underwent laboratory analyses within a week before surgery. Detailed pathohistological analysis and laboratory parameters were part of the standard hospital pre-operative procedure. Medical data were collected from archived hospital data. Data on the exact date of death were obtained by inspecting the death registers for the territory of the Republic of Serbia. All parameters were analyzed in relation to the overall survival and survival period without disease relapse. The follow-up median was 42 (24−48) months. The patients with the III, IV and V degrees of the Clavien–Dindo classification had 2.609 (HR: 2.609; 95% CI: 1.437−4.737; p = 0.002) times higher risk of death. The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) 2 and higher lymph node ratio carried a 2.188 (HR: 2.188; 95% CI: 1.413−3.387; p < 0.001) and 6.862 (HR: 6.862; 95% CI: 1.635−28.808; p = 0.009) times higher risk of death in the postoperative period, respectively; the risk was 3.089 times higher (HR: 3.089; 95% CI: 1.447−6.593; p = 0.004) in patients with verified tumor deposits. The patients with tumor deposits had 1.888 (HR: 1.888; 95% CI: 1024−3481; p = 0.042) and 3.049 (HR: 3.049; 95% CI: 1.206−7.706; p = 0.018) times higher risk of disease recurrence, respectively. The emphasized peritumoral lymphocyte response reduced the risk of recurrence by 61% (HR: 0.391; 95% CI: 0.196−0.780; p = 0.005). Standard perioperative laboratory and pathohistological parameters, which do not present any additional cost for the health system, may provide information on the CRC patient outcome and lay the groundwork for a larger prospective examination.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The SII (systemic immune-inflammation index) has been extensively reported to have a prognostic value in prostate cancer (PCa), despite the unconformable results. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to quantify the effect of pretreatment SII on survival outcomes in patients with PCa.

METHODS

The following databases were searched: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). For exploration of the SII's correlations with the overall survival (OS) and the progression-free survival/biochemical recurrence-free survival (PFS/bRFS) in PCa, the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) were assessed within 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The present meta-analysis covered 10 studies with 8133 patients. Among the PCa population, a high SII was linked significantly to poor OS (HR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.87-3.70, p < 0.001), and worse PFS/bRFS (HR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.30-4.77, p = 0.006). However, a high SII was not linked significantly to T stage (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 0.86-3.33, p = 0.128), the metastasis to lymph node (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 0.69-4.16, p = 0.251), age (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.88-2.23, p = 0.150), or the Gleason score (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.88-1.96, p = 0.178).

CONCLUSIONS

For the PCa sufferers, the SII might be a promising prognostic biomarker, which is applicable to the high-risk subgroup identification, and provide personalized therapeutic strategies.

Prognostic Role of Pretreatment C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Urological Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

To investigate the potential prognostic role of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with urinary cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), bladder cancer (BC), and prostate cancer (PC).

Methods

We searched and screened literatures with PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science in January 2022. We applied combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the associations.

Results

Thirteen studies including 2,941 cases were analyzed in our study. Merged results indicated that highly pretreated CAR was associated with inferior overall survival (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.86-2.62, p &lt; 0.001) and progression-free survival (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.36-2.52, p &lt; 0.001) for urinary cancers. In a subgroup analysis of OS by tumor type, CAR can be a predictor in RCC (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.72-2.56), BC (HR 3.35, 95% CI 1.94-5.80), and PC (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43-3.37). In a subgroup analysis of PFS by tumor type, CAR can be a predictor in BC (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03-3.02), and RCC (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.25-2.89). The reliability and robustness of results were confirmed.

Conclusions

High pretreated CAR was effective predictor of poor survival in patients with urinary cancers and can act as prognostic factor for these cases.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022306414).

Prognostic Role of the C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in Patients With Gynecological Cancers: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Many studies have investigated the prognostic role of the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CRP/Alb ratio) in patients with gynecological cancers; however, there is lack of consensus owing to conflicting results across studies. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the prognostic role of the CRP/Alb ratio in gynecological cancers.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang electronic databases since inception to April 2021. Combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the prognostic effect of the CRP/Alb ratio in gynecological cancers. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to investigate the association between the CRP/Alb ratio and clinicopathological features.

Results

The meta-analysis included seven studies with 1,847 patients. The pooled results showed that a high pretreatment CRP/Alb ratio was associated with poor overall survival (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.41-2.40; p < 0.001) and progression-/disease-free survival (HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.42-4.68; p = 0.002). Additionally, a high CRP/Alb ratio was significantly associated with stages III-IV disease (the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification) (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.45-6.14; p = 0.003). However, we observed a non-significant correlation between the CRP/Alb ratio and lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and histopathological grade.

Conclusions

The CRP/Alb ratio is a convenient and accurate predictor of survival outcomes in gynecological cancers. A high CRP/Alb ratio also predicts tumor progression.

C reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) as predictor of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most severe complications in colorectal surgery. Currently, no predictive biomarkers of AL are available. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of C reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) as a predictor of AL in patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on 1183 consecutive patients surgically treated for histologically proven colorectal cancer in the surgical units involved in the study were collected. Data included sex, age, BMI, ASA score, Charlson comorbidity index, localization, histology and stage of the disease, as well as blood tests including albumin and CRP at the 4th postoperative day. Differences in CAR between patients who developed AL and those who did not were analyzed, and the ability of CAR to predict AL was investigated with ROC analysis.

RESULTS

CAR was significantly higher in patients with AL in comparison to those without, at the 4th postoperative day. In ROC analysis CAR showed a good ability in detecting AL (AUC 0.825, 95%CI: 0,786-0,859), greater than those of CRP and albumin alone. CAR also showed a high ability in detecting postoperative deaths (AUC 0.750, 95% CI 0,956-0,987). These findings were confirmed in multivariate analysis including the most relevant risk factors for AL.

CONCLUSION

Our study evidenced that CAR, an inexpensive and widely available laboratory biomarker, adequately predicts AL and death in patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer.