Scientific Reports (May 2022)

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio predicts survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib

  • Toshifumi Tada,
  • Takashi Kumada,
  • Atsushi Hiraoka,
  • Masashi Hirooka,
  • Kazuya Kariyama,
  • Joji Tani,
  • Masanori Atsukawa,
  • Koichi Takaguchi,
  • Ei Itobayashi,
  • Shinya Fukunishi,
  • Kunihiko Tsuji,
  • Toru Ishikawa,
  • Kazuto Tajiri,
  • Hironori Ochi,
  • Satoshi Yasuda,
  • Hidenori Toyoda,
  • Takeshi Hatanaka,
  • Satoru Kakizaki,
  • Noritomo Shimada,
  • Kazuhito Kawata,
  • Takaaki Tanaka,
  • Hideko Ohama,
  • Kazuhiro Nouso,
  • Asahiro Morishita,
  • Akemi Tsutsui,
  • Takuya Nagano,
  • Norio Itokawa,
  • Tomomi Okubo,
  • Taeang Arai,
  • Michitaka Imai,
  • Atsushi Naganuma,
  • Tomoko Aoki,
  • Yohei Koizumi,
  • Shinichiro Nakamura,
  • Kouji Joko,
  • Yoichi Hiasa,
  • Masatoshi Kudo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12058-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract We investigated the impact of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) on predicting outcomes in 522 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with lenvatinib. We determined the optimal CAR cutoff value with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Additionally, we clarified the relationship between CAR and liver function or HCC progression. Median overall survival was 20.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 17.2–22.6) months. The optimal CAR cutoff value was determined to be 0.108. Multivariate analysis showed that high CAR (≥ 0.108) (hazard ratio (HR), 1.915; 95% CI, 1.495–2.452), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 1 (HR, 1.429), and α-fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/mL (HR, 1.604) were independently associated with overall survival. Cumulative overall survival differed significantly between patients with low versus high CAR (p < 0.001). Median progression-free survival was 7.5 (95% CI, 6.7–8.1) months. Multivariate analysis showed that age, CAR ≥ 0.108 (HR, 1.644; 95% CI, 1.324–2.043), and non-hepatitis B, non-hepatitis C etiology (HR, 0.726) were independently associated with progression-free survival. Cumulative progression-free survival differed significantly between patients with low versus high CAR (p < 0.001). CAR values were significantly higher as Japan Integrated Staging score increased (p < 0.001). In conclusion, CAR can predict outcomes in patients with unresectable HCC treated with lenvatinib.