C-reactive protein is an independent prognostic marker in patients with tongue carcinoma - A retrospective study

M Graupp; K Schaffer; A Wolf; S Vasicek; T Weiland; P Pondorfer; C Holzmeister; U Moser; D Thurnher

doi:10.1111/coa.13102

C-reactive protein is an independent prognostic marker in patients with tongue carcinoma - A retrospective study

Clin Otolaryngol. 2018 Aug;43(4):1050-1056. doi: 10.1111/coa.13102. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Authors

M Graupp¹, K Schaffer¹, A Wolf¹, S Vasicek¹, T Weiland¹, P Pondorfer¹, C Holzmeister¹, U Moser¹, D Thurnher¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

PMID: 29575651
DOI: 10.1111/coa.13102

Abstract

Objectives: Reliable prognostic markers are lacking for tongue carcinoma. C-reactive protein (CRP) and a ratio from neutrophils/lymphocytes (NLR) are biomarkers, associated with prognosis in solid cancers. Aim of this work was to investigate the role of CRP and NLR in prognosis of patients with tongue carcinoma.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: We retrospectively analysed data of patients treated for tongue carcinoma at our institution. Levels of CRP, Neutrophils and Lymphocytes were measured pretherapeutic.

Participants: 197 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue between 2002 and 2015.

Main outcome measures: Overall survival, disease-free survival.

Results: Elevated CRP was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in our cohort in uni- and multivariate analysis. NLR was not associated with prognosis.

Conclusion: In the present study we could confirm the role of CRP as an independent prognostic marker in patients with tongue carcinoma. Incorporating this marker in prognostication could represent a valuable and moreover inexpensive tool for improved decisions making concerning therapy in the future.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; neutrophile/lymphocyte ratio; prognostic markers; survival; tongue carcinoma.