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BMC Cancer

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Underweight | Research

Comprehensive evaluation of serum hepatic proteins in predicting prognosis among cancer patients with cachexia: an observational cohort study

Authors: Jia-Xin Huang, Xi Zhang, Meng Tang, Qi Zhang, Li Deng, Chun-Hua Song, Wei Li, Han-Ping Shi, Ming-Hua Cong

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Hepatic proteins, including albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin have been confirmed to be prognostic predictors in various cancers. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prognostic value of these three serum markers in patients with cancer cachexia.

Methods

This multicenter prospective cohort study included 1303 cancer cachexia patients, among whom 592 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 20.23 months. The definition of cachexia was based on the 2011 international consensus. Concordance index (C-index) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to compare the prognostic performance. The primary outcome was overall survival, which was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method generated by log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent predictors associated with survival. The secondary outcomes included 90-days mortality and quality of life (QoL).

Results

C-index and ROC curves showed that albumin had the most accurate predictive capacity for survival, followed by transferrin and prealbumin. Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed that low albumin (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.28–1.80, P < 0.001), prealbumin (HR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.19–1.69, P < 0.001), and transferrin (HR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.25–1.80, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for long-term survival in cancer patients with cachexia. In subgroup analysis, the prognostic value of low albumin was significant in patients with upper gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; low prealbumin was significant in colorectal cancer; and low transferrin was significant in patients with upper gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer. All three hepatic proteins were valuable as prognostic predictors for patients with advanced (Stage III and IV) cancer with cachexia. The risks of 90-days mortality and impaired QoL were higher in cachexia patients with low albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin levels.

Conclusion

Low albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin levels were all independent prognostic factors affecting patients with cancer cachexia, especially in patients in the advanced stages. These results highlight the value of routinely checking serum hepatic proteins in clinical practice to predict the prognosis of patients with cancer cachexia.

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Title: Comprehensive evaluation of serum hepatic proteins in predicting prognosis among cancer patients with cachexia: an observational cohort study
Authors: Jia-Xin Huang
Xi Zhang
Meng Tang
Qi Zhang
Li Deng
Chun-Hua Song
Wei Li
Han-Ping Shi
Ming-Hua Cong
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Underweight
Underweight
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12056-5

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