Open AccessPrognostic role of C-reactive protein in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Yi Fang,
Chang Xu,
Peng Wu,
Ling-Hao Zhang,
Dawei Li,
Jiehao Sun,
Wenfeng Li,
Zhisu Liao
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000008463
Subject(s) - medicine , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , hazard ratio , cochrane library , confidence interval , oncology , meta analysis , c reactive protein , subgroup analysis , proportional hazards model , population , gastroenterology , radiation therapy , inflammation , environmental health
Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be associated with several tumors. However, its association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not well characterized. We performed a literature review and meta-analysis to assess the prognostic relevance of elevated CRP levels in patients with NPC. Methods: A literature search for relevant studies was performed on PubMed (Medline), the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were calculated to assess the association between elevated CRP levels and survival outcomes. Results: Five studies with a combined study population of 5215 patients with NPC were included. Pooled hazard ratios for overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival were 1.84 (95% CI = 1.57–2.17) and 1.81 (95% CI = 1.53–2.14), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that types of indicators and treatment before inclusion had no significant impact on the observed association. Conclusion: Elevated serum CRP levels in patients with NPC were associated with worse prognosis.