Prognostic value of hemoglobin concentration in radiotherapy for cancer of supraglottic larynx.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is the estimation of correlations between hemoglobin concentration either before or after radiotherapy and local tumor control probability for laryngeal cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 847 cases of laryngeal supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation alone was performed using maximum likelihood estimations, and step-wise logistic regression. All patients were in good initial performance status (Karnofsky index >70). The minimum follow-up time was 3 years.


RESULTS
Logistic regression showed that the hemoglobin concentration after radiotherapy is an important prognostic factor. There was a very strong correlation between hemoglobin concentration and tumor local control probability. Hemoglobin concentration at the beginning of radiotherapy does not correlate with treatment outcome, but any decrease of hemoglobin during therapy is a strong prognostic factor for treatment failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although regression models with many variables may be instable, the present results suggest that hemoglobin concentration after treatment is at least as important as overall treatment time. It was not possible to find out whether the low concentration of hemoglobin is an independent cause of low TCP or whether it reflects other mechanisms that may influence both hemoglobin level and the TCP.
Tarnawski
R
R
Radiotherapy Clinic, Centre of Oncology Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute branch in Gliwice, Armii Krajowej, Poland.
Skladowski
K
K
Maciejewski
B
B
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006441:Hemoglobin A