C-reactive protein is a prognostic parameter in patients with cervical cancer

Objective. To evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels can be used as a prognostic parameter in patients with cervical cancer. Methods. In the present study, CRP serum levels were measured in 215 patients with cervical cancer. CRP serum levels were measured prior to therapy for cervical cancer and were correlated to clinical data. Results. The median CPP serum level in patients with cervical cancer was 0.5 mg/dl (interquartile range 0.5-0.9 mg/dl). CRP serum levels were significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (p<0.001), lymph node involvement (p=0.01) and patients' age (p=0.01), but not with histological grade (p=0.1) and histological type (p=0.9). In a univariate and multivariate analysis CRP serum levels, tumor stage, and lymph node involvement, but not histological grade, histological type and patients' age were associated with overall and disease-free survival. Conclusion. CRP serum levels can be used as additional prognostic parameter in patients with cervical cancer. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.