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. 2010 Aug 2:2:21.
doi: 10.1186/1758-3284-2-21.

C-reactive protein levels: a prognostic marker for patients with head and neck cancer?

Astrid L Kruse  1 , Heinz T Luebbers, Klaus W Grätz
Affiliations

C-reactive protein levels: a prognostic marker for patients with head and neck cancer?

Astrid L Kruse et al. Head Neck Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Recent advances in understanding complex tumor interactions have led to the discovery of an association between inflammation and cancer, in particular for colon and lung cancer, but only a very few have dealt with oral cancer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the significance of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a parameter for development of lymph node metastases or recurrence.

Materials and methods: In 278 patients with oral cancer, preoperative CRP levels were compared with development of recurrence and metastasis.

Results: In 27 patients from the normal CRP group, and in 21 patients from the elevated CRP group, local recurrence was observed. Concerning lymph node metastases, 37 patients were in the normal group and 9 patients in the elevated CRP group. No significant correlation could be found between elevated CRP levels and metastasis (p = 0.468) or recurrence (p = 0.137).

Conclusion: Our findings do not appear to support a correlation between preoperative CRP levels and development of recurrence or metastases. In further studies, CRP levels in precancerous lesions and in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) positive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) should be studied.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of age and CRP.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of time to recurrence dependent on CRP level.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of time to metastases dependent on CRP level.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Kaplan-Meier analysis of development of metastasis in regard to CRP level.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Kaplan-Meier analysis of development of recurrence in regard to CRP level.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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