The value of the systematic inflammation-based Glasgow Prognostic Score in patients with gastric cancer: a literature review.

The presence of a systemic inflammatory response (SIR) is recognized to occur in the presence of malignancy. And the SIR-Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS)/modified GPS (mGPS) composed of the C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin is a tumor stage- and treatment-independent, routinely available and well-standardized prognostic factor, reflects both an ongoing SIR (CRP) and a progressive nutritional decline (albumin) in patients with advanced cancer. Previous studies showed that GPS/mGPS appear to be a superior prognostic factor compared with other cellular components of the SIR and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status in some aspects. Besides, GPS/mGPS aids at deciding active or palliation treatment and selecting patients with gastric cancer who tolerate platinum-based chemotherapy. Therefore, GPS/mGPS may be incorporated or combined with other factors to improve assessment of prognosis and guide treatment of patients with gastric cancer in a routine clinical work. However, it remains to be determined whether the GPS and mGPS have different prognostic value in each stage of gastric cancer and the necessity of normalization of the GPS/mGPS by anti-inflammation and maintenance of performance status or nutritional status in clinical work.