Abstract:
Objective The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between the level of preoperative serum albumin in rectal carcinoma patients and their postoperative overall survival as well as discuss the probable underlying mechanism.
Methods Based on their preoperative serum albumin levels, 338 rectal carcinoma patients who underwent radical surgery from 2004 to 2007 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were included in this study. They were divided into two groups (group A: serum albumin, ≤35 g/L; group B: serum albumin, > 35 g/L), which we compared in univariate and multivariate statistical models. We then analyzed differences in their clinical pathological features and prognosis.
Results The statistical results showed that the level of serum albumin is correlated with the diameter and the depth of infiltration of the rectal carcinoma (P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival of the patients from group A was remarkably shorter than that of the patients from group B (P < 0.001). According to the multivariate analy- sis, the level of preoperative serum albumin served as an independent prognostic factor in the patients who underwent radical resection of their rectal carcinoma (P < 0.001).
Conclusion The level of preoperative serum albumin is an independent prognostic factor correlated with the postoperative overall survival of rectal carcinoma patients.