From the Research
Elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in gastric cancer typically range above 3.0 mg/L, indicating a poor prognosis and increased likelihood of advanced disease stage, larger tumor size, and metastasis. The significance of CRP levels in gastric cancer is multifaceted, serving as a biomarker for inflammation and a predictor of patient outcomes.
- CRP is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation, and its elevation in gastric cancer patients often correlates with more advanced disease stage, larger tumor size, and increased likelihood of metastasis 1.
- Patients with elevated CRP levels typically experience worse overall survival rates and higher recurrence rates after treatment compared to those with normal CRP levels.
- The relationship between elevated CRP and gastric cancer stems from the tumor's ability to trigger inflammatory responses and release inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, which stimulates CRP production.
- Clinicians use CRP measurements alongside other biomarkers and imaging studies to assess disease severity, monitor treatment response, and guide therapeutic decisions, as seen in a study where the CRP/Alb ratio was independently associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with gastric cancer 2.
- Regular CRP monitoring during treatment can help evaluate therapeutic efficacy, with persistent elevation potentially indicating treatment resistance or disease progression.
- Understanding this inflammatory marker's significance helps clinicians develop more personalized treatment approaches and more accurately predict patient outcomes in gastric cancer management, with a high preoperative CRP/Alb ratio value being able to predict poor prognosis in locally advanced gastric patients 2.