The utility of serum osteopontin levels for predicting postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery

• Published in: International journal of clinical oncology 2022-11, Vol.27 (11), p.1706-1716
• Main Authors: Sekiguchi, Kumiko, Matsuda, Akihisa, Yamada, Marina, Matsumoto, Satoshi, Sakurazawa, Nobuyuki, Kawano, Youichi, Yamada, Takeshi, Miyashita, Masao, Yoshida, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone cancer; Bone remodeling; C-reactive protein; Cancer Research; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Complications; Inflammation; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Osteopontin; Peripheral blood; Postoperative; Surgery; Surgical Oncology
• ISSN: 1341-9625; 1437-7772
• DOI: 10.1007/s10147-022-02225-6

Background/Aim Osteopontin (OPN) is a secretory glycoprotein, which is expressed not only in osteoblasts, but immune cells including macrophages and activated T cells. Its pleiotropic immune functions, such as bone remodeling, cancer progression, immune response, and inflammation have been reported previously. However, the association between OPN and postoperative complications (POC) after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery has not been studied, so far. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected before (pre) and immediately after surgery (post), and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Serum OPN levels were measured by ELISA. In total, 78 patients who underwent elective CRC surgery were divided into the No-POC ( n  = 54) and POC ( n  = 24) groups. Results The POC group had significantly higher OPN levels than the No-POC group throughout the postoperative observation period. The maximum OPN levels from pre- to postsurgical samples showed the best predictive potential for POCs (cut off: 20.75 ng/mL, area under the curve: 0.724) and were correlated with length of postoperative stays. OPN values were significantly correlated with C-reactive protein on POD3 and were identified as an independent predictive marker for POCs (odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.175–12.798, P  = 0.026). The severity of POCs was reflected in increased OPN levels. Conclusion Increased postoperative OPN was associated with increased postoperative inflammatory host responses and POC after CRC surgery. Serum OPN level may be a useful biomarker for early prediction of POC and it may provide additional information for treatment decisions to prevent POC.