Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Evaluation of pre-therapeutic Plasma Fibrinogen and C-reactive Protein as prognostic factors

Abstract

It has been known for a long time that inflammation plays a key role in the genesis of cancer. Different biomarkers representing inflammation are being acknowledged and used as prognostic tools in various cancer types. Yet, there are only few studies published regarding biomarkers, such as CRP (C reactive protein), and oropharyngeal cancer. Thus, the aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of C-reactive protein and pretreatment plasma fibrinogen as prognostic factors in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this retrospective study charts of 161 patients at the department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital of Graz were reviewed and data was collected to investigate routine laboratory parameters (Fibrinogen and CRP) as prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were applied for statistical analyses. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) during a mean follow-up of 31 ± 23.2 months. T-classification, AJCC-stage, ECOG-stage and CRP showed a significant impact for the survival in general. Elevated levels of CRP were significantly associated with worse OS in the total cohort (p=0,003), the oropharynx group (p=0,023) and in the root-of-the-tongue group (p=0,029), as well as lower DFS in the total cohort (p

Datum der Bewilligung	2018
Originalsprache	Englisch
Gradverleihende Hochschule	Medizinische Universität Graz
Betreuer/-in	Prisca Pondorfer-Schäfer (Betreuer*in)