title: C-reactive protein as a significant prognostic factor for stage IV gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to clarify the roles of CRP and albumin as independent prognostic factors for stage IV gastric cancer (stIVGC) patients. The optimal cut-off value for these two markers was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  123 stIVGC patients presented at our Medical Center from April, 2005 to March, 2011 were investigated. Clinicopathological, tumor-specific and treatment factors were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression models were used to identify for favorable factors affecting overall survival. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to determine cut-off values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analysis revealed CRP (hazard ratio (HR): 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.18) to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. According to the results of the analysis albumin was excluded. ROC curve of the 3-month-prognosis patients revealed a maximum area under the curve of 0.85 and a cut-off value of 1.7 mg/dl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRP can be considered an independent prognostic factor for survival of stIVGC patients and can be used for short-term survival prediction.
authors: 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama, 350-8550, Japan. hirobaba@aol.com.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Baba
authors: Koki
authors: K
authors: Kuwabara
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Ishiguro
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Hatano
authors: Takeaki
authors: T
authors: Matsuzawa
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Fukuchi
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Kumagai
authors: Keiichiro
authors: K
authors: Ishibashi
authors: Erito
authors: E
authors: Mochiki
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Stage IV gastric cancer; cut-off value; prognosis