Prognostic value of pretreatment albumin to globulin ratio in prostate cancer patients treated with maximal androgen blockade

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment albumin to globulin ratio(AGR)in prostate cancer(Pca)patients treated with maximal androgen blockade(MAB). Methods Clinical and pathological data of 210 Pca patients who underwent MAB as first-line therapy between January 2013 and June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The ages of patients in our cohort ranged from 61 to 90 years, with a mean of(77.0±6.5)years.According to the cut-off point for AGR calculated by the receiver-operating curve analysis, patients were categorized into two groups: the high-AGR group and the low-AGR group.Clinical and pathological features were compared between the groups.Independent factors affecting prognosis were analyzed by using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The median follow-up duration was 44.0 months.Of the 210 patients, 99 cases had castration resistance, 100 patients(47.6%)had disease progression and 67 patients(31.8%)died.The cut-off point for AGR calculated by the receiver-operating curve analysis was 1.56.There were 103 cases in the low-AGR group(AGR<1.56)and 107 cases in the high-AGR group(AGR≥1.56). Univariate analysis revealed that the progression-free survival(PFS), cancer-specific survival(CSS)and overall survival(OS)were lower in the low-AGR group than in the high-AGR group[1.773(1.298~2.442), 1.948(1.220~3.213), 1.965(1.217~2.996), all P<0.05]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Gleason score, regional lymph nodes and bone metastases and AGR were independent prognostic factors for PFS(P=0.007, 0.040 and 0.022, P=0.031), CSS(P=0.003, 0.035 and 0.041, P=0.009)and OS(P=0.003, 0.026 and 0.023, P=0.002). Conclusions Pretreatment AGR<1.56 is an independent predictor for poor prognosis in Pca patients treated with MAB. Key words: Prostatic neoplasms; Androgen antagonists; Albumins; Prognosis