Serum albumin and CA125 are powerful predictors of survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prognostic significance of presentation serum albumin, clinical stage and CA125 levels in ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data using a Cox proportional hazards model.


METHODS
A district general hospital oncology unit.


METHODS
One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery.


METHODS
Survival.


RESULTS
A linear increase in risk was observed with high log CA125 (P < 0.0001) and with low albumin (P < 0.0001). In late stage patients (III and IV) albumin is the best predictor of survival (P = 0.0006). The presence of ascites, blood transfusion, type of surgery or chemotherapy did not improve the predictive model.


CONCLUSIONS
CA125 and albumin can be used to identify prognostic subgroups independently of stage. Albumin alone can also be used as a predictor of survival. A simple classification of patients into three groups based on serum albumin of 41 g/l or more, 35 to 40 g/l and 34 g/l or less provides a clear separation of survival curves in the present group of patients.
Parker
D
D
Clinical Oncology Unit, Bradford University, West Yorkshire, UK.
Bradley
C
C
Bogle
S M
SM
Lay
J
J
Masood
M
M
Hancock
A K
AK
Naylor
B
B
Price
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D012709:Serum Albumin