The role of initial sodium and globulin values in the prognosis prediction of patients diagnosed with colon cancer

Abstract

Aims: Early prediction of prognosis in malignancies can help determine life expectancy and take necessary further measures accordingly. There is no consensus on using any biomarker in predicting prognosis in colon cancer cases. A study reported that the sodium/globulin ratio is a valuable biomarker in predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of baseline sodium, globulin, and sodium/globulin ratio in the prediction of prognosis and survival in colon cancer cases. Methods: The files of patients diagnosed with colon cancer who applied to Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine Medical Oncology Clinic between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the cases and their progression and survival were investigated. Results: 140 patients diagnosed with colon cancer were included in the study (82 men, 58 women). The average age at diagnosis was 64.1±12.6 years, 99.3% of them were adenocarcinoma, and 32.9% of them were stage 4 cancers. It was determined that 42.1% of the patients died (average survival time 54.0±3.2 months), and progression developed in 18.6% during the study period. The average baseline sodium/globulin ratio was 51.10±8.70. No significant correlation was found between initial serum sodium level, globulin level, sodium/globulin ratio, survival time, and progression status (p>0.05). Baseline serum globulin level showed a weak negative correlation with both progression-free and overall survival time (r=-0.23, p<0.05 and r=-0.24, p<0.05, respectively), while the sodium/globulin ratio showed a weak positive correlation with progression-free survival time (r=0.26, p<0.01) and overall survival time (r=0.25, p<0.01). The ROC curve analysis determined that initial serum sodium and globulin levels and sodium/globulin ratio were not predictive of progression and survival at any cut-off point (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although baseline serum sodium level, globulin level, and serum sodium/globulin ratio were weakly correlated with progression-free and overall survival time of patients diagnosed with colon cancer, they were not valuable in predicting progression and survival.