Diagnostic Value of Preoperative Haemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte and Platelet (HALP) Score in Predicting Tumour Budding in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the value of preoperative haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score in predicting tumour budding in colorectal carcinoma. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Health Sciences, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital Ýstanbul/Turkey, between May 2020 and May 2021. Methodology: The colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of tumour budding. A total of 110 patients were included in the study, and there were 31 patients in group 1 and 79 patients in group 2. The predictive value of the HALP score in predicting tumour budding at the determined cut-off point was evaluated. Results: The mean HALP score was similar in both groups (p=0.459). The rate of lymphovascular invasion was higher in group 2 (p=0.002), and T3 and T4 tumours were more common in group 2 (p<0.001). The number of metastatic lymph nodes was higher in group 2 (p=0.049). When the patients in group 2 were divided into subgroups according to the degree of tumour budding, the HALP score differed between intermediate and high budding groups (p=0.032). A HALP value of >31.6 predicted the presence of tumour budding with a sensitivity of 70.89% and a specificity of 48.39%. Conclusion: The presence of tumour budding is associated with aggressive phenotypic features in colorectal carcinoma. The preoperative prediction of tumour budding can serve as a guide in the development of individualised therapy plans. The HALP score was associated with the presence of intermediate or high degree of tumour budding.