Relationship between postoperative CRP and prognosis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background/Aim: Few studies have examined postoperative CRP in esophageal cancer. We investigated the relationship between postoperative CRP values according to the postoperative period and prognosis in esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including 187 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) between January 2008 and October 2016. Results: CRP within 1 month of surgery was not related to overall survival (OS) or recurrence-free survival (RFS). In a univariate analysis, postoperative 2 months (2M)-CRP .0.15 ml/dl was associated with poorer OS (41.4 vs. 71.4%, p=0.0002) and RFS (28.9 vs. 51.3%, p=0.007). In a multivariate analysis, 2M-CRP .0.15 ml/dl was an independent factor for poorer OS (HR=2.27, 95%CI=1.03-3.34, p=0.005) and RFS (HR=1.65, 95%CI=1.08-2.52, p=0.020). The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was significantly higher in the 2MCRP .0.15 ml/dl group (p=0.026). Conclusion: 2M-CRP .0.15 ml/dl is an independent prognostic factor for ESCC. Furthermore, postoperative pneumonia may be associated with patient prognosis after esophagectomy.