New Prognostic Indicator is Useful for Predicting the Survival of Patients with Unresectable Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Complete resection of tumors is possible after heavy chemotherapy in a few patients with unresectable colorectal cancer (UCRC). This study evaluated the ability of new prognostic score to identify such patients.

METHODOLOGY

Four peripheral blood markers were evaluated in 50 patients diagnosed with UCRC at the time of patients' first visit to the hospital: C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Each was scored +1 or 0 for that marker. For example, when patient shows CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/dL, ALB 3.5 g/dL, NLR ≥ 5, and CEA ≥ 10 ng/mL, his score is +4. Thus, patients' scores could range from 0 to +4.

RESULTS

The median survival time (MST) of the 15 patients with scores 0 and +1 was longer than that of the 35 with scores +2, +3, and +4 (35 vs. 6 months, P < 0.001). R0 operation after treatment was performed in 2 patients (4%) with score 0 and +1.

CONCLUSION

Our prognostic score is useful in selecting patients with UCRC who will survive.