Combining the Glasgow Prognostic Score and Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Level Improves the Ability to Predict Early Recurrence in Resected Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Gemcitabine.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to confirm the predictive/prognostic value of the preadjuvant Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level in pancreatic cancer patients receiving adjuvant gemcitabine (GEM) after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 67 resected pancreatic cancer patients, treated with adjuvant GEM, were included. The GPS and CA19-9 level were calculated prior to administration of adjuvant therapy and were found to correlate with the outcomes and rate of early recurrence. RESULTS: An elevated preadjuvant GPS or CA19-9 level was significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (OS) (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). Either an elevated GPS or CA19-9 level predicted early recurrence and the combined use of these two factors improved the ability to predict early recurrence, with a specificity and accuracy up to 0.958 and 0.821, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both an elevated preadjuvant GPS and CA19-9 level, when used alone, are significant predictors of poor outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients receiving adjuvant GEM. The combined use of these parameters improves the ability to predict early recurrence in such patients.