title: The presence of a systemic inflammatory response predicts poorer survival in patients receiving adjuvant 5-FU chemotherapy following potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that the presence of a systemic inflammatory response plays an important role in survival following curative resection for colorectal cancer. The present study evaluated the relationship between C-reactive protein concentrations and survival in a cohort of patients receiving adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy following potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer. In all, 222 patients undergoing potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer were studied. Of these, 50 patients received adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy. Circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein were measured prior to surgery. The minimum follow-up was 15 months; the median follow-up of the survivors was 38 months. During this period 61 patients died, 32 patients of their cancer and 29 of intercurrent disease. In those patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, age (P < 0.001), Dukes stage (P < 0.05) and an elevated C-reactive protein (P < 0.01) were significantly associated with survival. In those patients who did receive adjuvant chemotherapy, an elevated C-reactive protein concentration (P < 0.01) was significantly associated with survival. The presence of a systemic inflammatory response is an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients receiving adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy following potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Crozier
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Angerson
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Horgan
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005472:Fluorouracil