The role of post-operative glutamine serum level and one-year survival rate of stage III of colorectal cancer patients: a single center study

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs, accounting for 11.5% of all patients with cancer in Indonesia. The less the spread of cancer, the higher the life expectancy of patients with cancer. Glutamine is involved in tumor cell proliferation and growth. This study aims to verify the correlation of serum glutamine levels with the one-year survival rate of patients with stadium III colorectal cancer at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia. Method: A quantitative analytic-observational longitudinal study (Cohort) was conducted from May 1st, 2020, to September 30th, 2021. Inclusion criteria were the CRC patients with stage III and could be followed up for one year. Exclusion criteria were the CRC patients who had other systemic problems. The patient’s blood glutamine levels were taken three months postoperatively measured by Glutamine Assay kit (Colorimetric) ab197011 and evaluated clinically for one year. Glutamine levels in the blood are low if they are less than 52 ng/µL. The parameters assessed were glutamine serum level and survival rate of colorectal cancer patients. Statistical analysis using the Chi-square test and the Kaplan Meier method was employed to obtain the survival curve. Analysis to compare survival rate with glutamine levels used the Cox regression model. Results: A one-year survival rate in patients with stadium III colorectal cancer was 95.5% at post-operative glutamine levels of ≥ 52 ng/µL and 65.4% at post-operative glutamine levels of < 52 ng/µL. The mean progressive free survival rate was 11.818 months (95%CI=11.470-12.166) at post-operative glutamine levels of ≥ 52 ng/µL and 10.038 months (95%CI=8.913-11.164) at post-operative glutamine levels of < 52 ng/µL. The overall free survival rate was 11.955 months (95%CI=11.868-12.042) at post-operative glutamine levels of ≥ 52 ng/µL and 10.885 months (95% CI=10.128-11.641) at post-operative glutamine levels of < 52 ng/µL. Patients with glutamine levels of <52 ng/µL were 8.959 times more probable to die than patients with post-operative glutamine levels of ≥ 52 ng/µL. Conclusion: This study shows a significant relationship between serum glutamine levels and the one-year survival rate of patients with stadium III colorectal cancer at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia.