Predicting survival in cancer patients: the role of cachexia and hormonal, nutritional and inflammatory markers

Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle

Utech Anne E.²  Tadros Eiriny M.²  Hayes Teresa G.¹ 

[1] Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX;Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

关键词: Inflammation;    Anorexia;    Interleukin-6;    TNF-α;    Testosterone;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s13539-012-0075-5

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Background

Cancer can lead to weight loss, anorexia, and poor nutritional status, which are associated with decreased survival in cancer patients.

Methods

Male cancer patients (n = 136) were followed for a mean time of 4.5 years. Variables were obtained at baseline: cancer stage, albumin, hemoglobin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, bioavailable testosterone, appetite questionnaire, and weight change from baseline to 18 months. Primary statistical tests included Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression (PHREG).

Results

Univariate PHREG showed that cancer stage, albumin, hemoglobin, TNF-α, IL-6, and weight change were each significantly associated with mortality risk (P < 0.05), but bioavailable testosterone was not. Multivariate PHREG analysis established that weight change and albumin were jointly statistically significant even after adjusting for stage.

Conclusion

In this sample of male oncology patients, cancer stage, serum albumin, and weight loss predicted survival. High levels of inflammatory markers and hemoglobin are associated with increased mortality, but do not significantly improve the ability to predict survival above and beyond cancer stage, albumin, and weight loss.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13539-012-0075-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
© 2012 The Authors. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.