Combined Diagnostic Efficacy of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW), Prealbumin (PA), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) as Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), prealbumin (PA), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. There was 500 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, 250 polyps of colorectal patients, and 250 healthy volunteers performed to complete blood counts with automated differential counts. The differences in RDW, PA, PLR, and CEA among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). RDW, PA, PLR, CEA, and RDW+PA+PLR+CEA all had a high accuracy rate for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. RDW, PA, PLR, CEA, and RDW+PA+PLR+CEA were divided into high-expression groups and low-expression groups according to ROC cut-off values. Age was statistically different between the high and low groups in RDW, PA, and CEA. M staging was statistically different between high and low groups in CEA, and PLR. T staging was statistically different between high and low groups in PA, CEA, PLR, and RDW+PA+CEA+ PLR. N staging and blood vessel invasion were statistically different between the high and low groups in CEA. TNM staging was statistically different between high and low groups in PA, CEA, PLR, and RDW+PA+CEA+PLR. Perineural invasion was statistically different between the high and low groups in PA and CEA. The number of lymph node metastases was significantly and positively correlated with CEA. CEA and PLR were independent risk factors for the TNM staging. And they had good diagnostic efficacy for the TNM staging of colorectal cancer.