L Kelly1, S White, P C Stone. 1. Palliative Medicine, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Surrey, UK. laura.kelly@sash.nhs.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The vitamin B(12)/C-reactive protein Index (BCI) has been proposed as a prognostic indicator in patients with advanced cancer. The purpose of this study was to confirm the utility of the BCI in palliative care patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced cancer provided a blood specimen for analysis. Demographic and disease-related variables were recorded. Patients were followed up for at least 90 days or until death. RESULTS: Patients (n = 329) were divided into three groups according to their BCI score. Patients in group 3 (BCI >40,000; median survival 29 days) had a significantly (P < 0.01) worse survival than patients in group 2 (BCI 10,001-40,000; median survival 43 days) and patients in group 1 (BCI < or =10,000; median survival 71 days). However, patients in group 1 did not have a significantly better prognosis than those in group 2 (P = 0.091). The point estimates for 90-day mortality for each of the three risk groups were different from the figures previously reported during the development phase of the BCI (group 1, 58.9% versus 47.2%; group 2, 64.0 versus 72.5%; group 3, 78.9% versus 90.6%). CONCLUSIONS: An elevated BCI (>40,000) predicts poor survival in patients with advanced cancer.
BACKGROUND: The vitamin B(12)/C-reactive protein Index (BCI) has been proposed as a prognostic indicator in patients with advanced cancer. The purpose of this study was to confirm the utility of the BCI in palliative care patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced cancer provided a blood specimen for analysis. Demographic and disease-related variables were recorded. Patients were followed up for at least 90 days or until death. RESULTS:Patients (n = 329) were divided into three groups according to their BCI score. Patients in group 3 (BCI >40,000; median survival 29 days) had a significantly (P < 0.01) worse survival than patients in group 2 (BCI 10,001-40,000; median survival 43 days) and patients in group 1 (BCI < or =10,000; median survival 71 days). However, patients in group 1 did not have a significantly better prognosis than those in group 2 (P = 0.091). The point estimates for 90-day mortality for each of the three risk groups were different from the figures previously reported during the development phase of the BCI (group 1, 58.9% versus 47.2%; group 2, 64.0 versus 72.5%; group 3, 78.9% versus 90.6%). CONCLUSIONS: An elevated BCI (>40,000) predicts poor survival in patients with advanced cancer.
Authors: Maria Nabal; Mar Bescos; Miquel Barcons; Pilar Torrubia; Javier Trujillano; Antonio Requena Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2014-06-12 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Nicolas Penel; Sylvie Negrier; Isabelle Ray-Coquard; Charles Ferte; Patrick Devos; Antoine Hollebecque; Michael B Sawyer; Antoine Adenis; Pascal Seve Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-08-03 Impact factor: 3.240