Preoperative plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 and serum C-reactive protein levels in patients with colorectal cancer. The RANX05 Colorectal Cancer Study Group

• Published in: Annals of surgical oncology 2000-09, Vol.7 (8), p.617-623
• Main Authors: Nielsen, H J, Christensen, I J, Sørensen, S, Moesgaard, F, Brünner, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - blood; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Histamine H2 Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; Middle Aged; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - blood; Preoperative Care; Prognosis; Ranitidine - therapeutic use; Survival Analysis
• ISSN: 1068-9265

Preoperative plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a prognostic variable in patients with colorectal cancer. It has been suggested, however, that plasma PAI-1 is a nonspecific prognostic parameter similar to the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP). In the present study we analyzed the association between plasma PAI-1 and serum CRP in patients scheduled for elective resection of colorectal cancer. In addition, the prognostic value of PAI-1 and CRP was studied in this patient cohort. PAI-1 and CRP were analyzed in citrated plasma and serum, respectively, obtained preoperatively from 594 patients. Patients who required preoperative blood transfusion received SAGM blood, in which soluble PAI-1 is not present. None of the patients received pre- or postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and all were followed in the outpatient clinic for at least 5 years or until death. The association of PAI-1 and CRP, respectively, with survival was tested using the median value of PAI-1 and the upper normal limit for CRP. Analyses were performed by inclusion of all patients, and in the subgroup of patients, who underwent curative resection. The median follow-up period was 6.8 (5.4-7.9) years. The median value of plasma PAI-1 was 35.8 ng/ml, and values greater than 94 nmol/L identified patients with increased CRP levels. Comparison of the molecules showed that PAI-1 was weakly correlated with CRP (r = .26; P