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BMC Cancer

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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Preoperative serum bilirubin is an independent prognostic factor for curatively resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Authors: Xiancong Huang, Yang Chen, Huan Yang, Ruting Wang, Zhongjian Chen

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines prognostic value of preoperative serum bilirubin, including unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), conjugated bilirubin (CB), and total bilirubin (TB), in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who underwent curative resection.

Methods

Between May 2010 and December 2012, a total of 351 ESCC patients were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent curative resection as their primary treatment. Clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) rate were investigated. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate the OS rate, and the prognostic factors were identified by Cox regression model. Besides, the potential inhibition effect of UCB on ESCC was investigated with both in vitro and in vivo models.

Results

The higher-level groups of UCB, CB, and TB demonstrated longer OS than their low counterparts, with hazard ratio (HR) values of 0.567 (95% CI: 0.424–0.759), 0.698 (95% CI: 0.522–0.933), and 0.602 (95% CI: 0.449–0.807), respectively. All three forms of bilirubin were identified as independent prognostic factors for patients with ESCC, and they were found to effectively stratify the survival risk of patients at TNM stage III. In vivo and in vitro models further confirmed the inhibitory effect of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) on the proliferation of ESCC.

Conclusion

The findings of our study have shed new light on the prognostic value and biological functions of bilirubin in relation to ESCC. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in ESCC tumorigenesis and provide potential therapeutic pathways for treating ESCC.

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Title: Preoperative serum bilirubin is an independent prognostic factor for curatively resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Xiancong Huang
Yang Chen
Huan Yang
Ruting Wang
Zhongjian Chen
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11215-4

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