Login / Signup

The Lipase/Amylase Ratio (LAR) in Peripheral Blood Might Represent a Novel Prognostic Marker in Patients with Surgically Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Michael StotzDominik Andreas BarthJakob Michael RiedlEva AsamerEva V KlockerPeter KornpratGeorg C HuttererFelix PrinzKaroline LacknerHerbert StögerArmin GergerMartin Pichler
Published in: Cancers (2020)
Pancreatic enzymes might play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the lipase/amylase ratio (LAR), representing a marker previously used in the differentiation of pancreatitis, as a potential prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. Data from 157 surgically treated patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 351 patients with metastatic disease were evaluated retrospectively. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was considered the endpoint of the study. After applying Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, uni- and multivariate Cox regression models were calculated to evaluate the prognostic relevance of LAR. An elevated LAR at diagnosis of localized pancreatic cancer was significantly associated with higher CA19-9 levels (p < 0.05). In univariate analysis, we observed an increased LAR as a significant factor for lower CSS in localized pancreatic cancer patients (HR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.12-2.36; p = 0.01), but not in metastatic patients (HR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.87-1.43; p = 0.363). In multivariate analysis, including age, gender, tumor stage, Karnofsky Performance Status, tumor grade, administration of chemotherapy and the LAR, an increased LAR was confirmed to represent an independent prognostic factor regarding CSS (HR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.17-2.77; p = 0.007) in localized pancreatic cancer patients. In conclusion, our study identified the LAR as an independent prognostic factor in surgically treated pancreatic cancer patients.
Keyphrases
  • prognostic factors
  • peripheral blood
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • newly diagnosed
  • ejection fraction
  • mental health
  • young adults
  • end stage renal disease
  • locally advanced
  • rectal cancer
  • free survival