Correlation between change of FA score and postoperative recurrence in esophageal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant treatment.

Abstract

41 Background: We previously reported that fibrinogen and albumin score (FA score), which was consisted of plasma fibrinogen level (FNG) and serum albumin level (Alb), was shown to predict postoperative survival in esophageal cancer patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. In this study, in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), change of FA score during NAC was reviewed and the correlation with recurrence free survival (RFS) was investigated. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 125 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent transthoracic esophagectomy in our institution between 2001 and 2012. FNG and Alb before (preTx) and after (preope) NAC were confirmed in 92 patients. Based on our previous reports, patients with elevated fibrinogen ( > 350 mg/dL) and decreased albumin ( < 3.8 g/dl) levels were allocated a FA score of 2, those with only one of these abnormalities were allocated a FA score of 1, and those with neither of these abnormalities were allocated a FA score of 0. Regarding change of FA score, based on the preTx and preope FA score, we classified into decrease group and increase (no change or increase) group. Patient characteristics, clinicopathological factors, preTx FA score, and preope FA score were reviewed, and correlation with RFS was investigated. Results: The number of preTx and preope FA score 0/1/2 was 39/41/12, 36/37/19. Regarding change of FA score, FA score decreased in 70 patients (76%), increased in 22 (24%). There was no significant difference in patient background and clinicopathological factors between groups. In survival univariate analysis, change of FA score (Increase group, HR 2.023, p = 0.025) were significantly correlated with RFS. In multivariate analysis, using preTx clinical stage as a covariate, FA score was shown to be an independent predict factor (Increase group, HR 2.076, p = 0.023) for RFS significantly. Conclusions: Change of FA score between before and after NAC was shown to be a predictive factor of RFS in esophageal cancer patients who received NAC. Both fibrinogen and albumin are popular indicators routinely measured in daily clinical practice, FA score may be highly validate and feasible.