title: The relationship between tumour proliferative activity, the systemic inflammatory response and survival in patients undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Ki-67, C-reactive protein and cancer-specific survival in patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-seven patients undergoing potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer had preoperative C-reactive protein concentrations and tumour Ki-67 labelling index measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On univariate analysis, age (P < 0.001), Dukes stage (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P < 0.001) and expression of Ki-67 (< 0.01) were associated with poorer cancer-specific survival. Ki-67 labelling index and C-reactive protein were correlated (r(s) = 0.172, P = 0.037). On multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.26-3.04, P = 0.003), Dukes stage (HR 4.38, 95% CI 2.11-9.09, P < 0.001) and C-reactive protein (HR 4.09, 95% CI 2.04-8.24, P < 0.001) retained significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased tumour proliferation is associated with a systemic inflammatory response and poor cancer-specific survival in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Canna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilmy
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McNicol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein