title: Prognostic Role of the Pretreatment C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in Solid Cancers: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) has been shown to play a significant prognostic role in several cancers. We aimed to comprehensively explore the potential role of the CAR as a prognostic indicator in solid cancers. In this meta-analysis, we collected data from 10 studies that examined the association between serum CAR and overall survival in patients with cancer. This meta-analysis included 4592 tumor patients. The eligible studies were found through the PubMed and Web of Science databases updated on 6 Oct 2016. The pooled hazard ratio (2.01, 95% CI: 1.58-2.56, p < 0.001) indicated that high CAR yielded worse survival in different cancers. Subgroup analyses showed a significant association between CAR and prognosis, regardless of the cutoff value, cutoff value selection, treatment method, country, sample size, stage and cancer type. This meta-analysis suggests that CAR may be a potential prognostic marker in solid cancers. However, further large prospective studies should be conducted to explore the critical role of CAR in survival of cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Onco-Pathology, Cancer Institute &General Surgery Institute, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Ohio University, Irvine Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA.
authors.forename: Zi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012709:Serum Albumin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein