title: Preoperative radiotherapy does not alter pre- and early postoperative serum C-reactive protein and albumin concentrations in colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the alterations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin levels in colorectal cancer patients who underwent preoperative radio(chemo)therapy and those who did not.
  
  
  METHODS
  The determinations of albumin and CRP were performed before and at 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after surgery in 60 colorectal cancer patients. 25 healthy subjects served as a reference group. For each patient the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the operation day CRP and albumin concentrations were not different in preoperatively treated or radiotherapy naïve patients. On postoperative day 2, 3, 5 and 7 no significant differences were observed between the two groups, with the only exception for albumin concentration, which was significantly higher on postoperative days 2 and 7 in the radiation naïve group. In all patients perioperative alterations of serum CRP level were significant at all time points (preoperatively vs. day 2, day 2 vs. day 3, day 3 vs. day 5, day 5 vs. day 7). The albumin decrease from the preoperative day to postoperative day 2 was significant, as was its increase from postoperative day 3 to 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have seen no differences in the CRP and albumin concentrations in preoperatively irradiated versus non-irradiated colorectal cancer patients on the day of surgery and on postoperative days 2, 3, 5 and 7. There were, however, significant concentration changes in the value of these two serum markers from preoperatively to postoperative day 2 and over the following postoperative week, but presumably related to the surgical trauma, not the neoadjuvant treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Centre of Oncology - Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Cracow Branch, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stasik
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Darasz
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakubowicz
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarapacz
authors.forename: Jan Kanty
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kulpa
keywords: CRP; albumin; colorectal cancer; neoadjuvant therapy