Prognostic Impact of Serum CRP Level in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the association of pretreatment serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level with prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).MethodsWithin a single-center retrospective study, HNSCC patients receiving treatment between 2014 and 2016 were analyzed regarding the prognostic value of CRP serum levels. X-Tile software was used to determine the optimal cutoff value of serum CRP level. The log-rank test and Kaplan–Meier method were used to assess the effects of CRP level on prognosis in patients with HNSCC. Univariate and multivariate analyses (enter method) using a Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to identify prognostic indicators of progression-free survival (PFS) as the primary outcome and overall survival (OS) as the secondary outcome.ResultsA total of 221 patients with HNSCC were assessed for eligibility, and 208 cases were included in the analysis. The HNSCC patients in the low-group (CRP ≤11.3 mg/L) showed better survival than those in the high-group (CRP > 11.3 mg/L). The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that N1-3 stage and a high serum CRP level (>11.3 mg/L) were unfavorable prognostic factors for PFS and OS in patients with HNSCC.ConclusionSerum CRP level is an independent prognostic marker for patients with HNSCC. CRP level could be regarded as a novel prognostic factor for HNSCC patients.