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. 2013 Jan 13;139(4):681–689. doi: 10.1007/s00432-012-1371-3

Table 2.

Univariate analysis of pre-treatment prognostic factors

Variable n Median TTP (months) p Hazard ratio (95 % CI)
A: Time-to-progression (TTP)
 Stage of disease
  Locally advanced 48 4.4 1
  Metastatic 243 5.1 0.868 0.97 (0.68–1.39)
 Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
  90–100 % 169 5.5 1
  60–80 % 108 3.6 0.004 1.51 (1.14–2.01)
 Tumor grading
  G1 + G2 117 6.1 1
  G3 + G4 125 4.4 0.008 1.50 (1.10–2.03)
 T stage
  T1 + T2 48 5.2 1
  T3 + T4 209 4.7 0.412 0.85 (0.58–1.25)
  T (continuous) 256 0.832 1.02 (0.84–1.25)
 Age (at study entry)
  ≤63 years 151 4.2 1
  ≥64 years 140 5.8 0.015 0.72 (0.54–0.94)
 Gender
  Male 192 4.5 1
  Female 99 5.3 0.915 1.02 (0.77–1.34)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9
  Not detectable* 20 3.8 1
  ≤1,000 U/ml 128 6.1 0.76 (0.45–1.27)
  >1,000 U/ml 140 4.0 0.003 1.11 (0.66–1.84)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9
  ≤1,000 U/ml 128 6.1 1
  >1,000 U/ml 140 4.0 0.002 1.55 (1.16–2.06)
  log [CA 19-9] 268 <0.001 1.15 (1.08–1.22)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9 (Elecsys®)
  ≤1,000 U/ml 62 6.6 1
  >1,000 U/ml 61 3.5 0.002 2.00 (1.29–3.11)
  log [CA 19-9] 123 <0.001 1.19 (1.08–1.31)
 LDH
  ≤250 U/l 168 5.4 1
  >250 U/l 79 3.4 <0.001 2.04 (1.47–2.84)
  log [LDH] 247 0.004 1.65 (1.18–2.31)
 CRP
  ≤1.0 mg/dl 59 6.1
  >1.0 mg/dl 56 3.8 0.062 1.52 (0.97–2.36)
  log [CRP] 110 0.026 1.24 (1.03–1.49)
 Bilirubin
  ≤1.0 mg/dl 224 4.9 1
  >1.0 mg/dl 58 4.4 0.202 1.26 (0.88–1.79)
  log [Bilirubin] 282 0.228 1.14 (0.92–1.41)
 CEA
  ≤4.5 ng/ml 102 6.1
  >4.5 ng/ml 101 3.5 <0.001 1.89 (1.35–2.63)
log [CEA] 203 0.004 1.11 (1.03–1.19)
 Hemoglobin
  ≥12 g/dl 115 4.1
  <12 g/dl 47 4.4 0.964 0.99 (0.66–1.50)
  log [Hemoglobin] 148 0.351 2.17 (0.43–11.12)
B: Overall survival (OS)
 Stage of disease
  Locally advanced 48 12.9 1
  Metastatic 243 8.3 0.005 1.63 (1.16–2.32)
 Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
  90–100 % 169 9.9 1
  60–80 % 108 8.0 0.037 1.33 (1.02–1.74)
 Tumor grading
  G1 + G2 117 10.8 1
  G3 + G4 125 8.3 0.013 1.42 (1.08–1.88)
 T stage
  T1 + T2 48 8.3 1
  T3 + T4 209 9.2 0.271 0.82 (0.58–1.17)
  T (continuous) 256 0.290 0.91 (0.77–1.08)
 Age (at study entry)
  ≤63 years 151 9.1 1
  ≥64 years 140 8.8 0.554 0.93 (0.72–1.20)
  log [age] 291 0.204 0.58 (0.26–1.34)
 Gender
  Male 192 8.6 1
  Female 99 9.7 0.196 0.84 (0.64–1.01)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9
  Not detectable* 20 8.9 1
  ≤1,000 U/ml 128 10.5 0.76 (0.45–1.27)
  >1,000 U/ml 140 8.0 0.020 1.11 (0.66–1.84)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9
  ≤1,000 U/ml 128 10.5 1
  >1,000 U/ml 140 8.0 0.006 1.46 (1.11–1.90)
  log [CA 19-9] 268 <0.001 1.13 (1.06–1.19)
 Pre-treatment CA 19-9 (Elecsys®)
  ≤1,000 62 10.3 1
  >1,000 61 8.1 0.048 1.49 (1.00–2.22)
  log [CA 19-9] 123 0.002 1.15 (1.06–1.26)
 LDH
  ≤250 U/l 168 9.9 1
  >250 U/l 79 5.9 <0.001 2.07 (1.55–2.78)
  log [LDH] <0.001 1.93 (1.40–2.65)
 CRP
  ≤1.0 mg/dl 59 11.4 1
  >1.0 mg/dl 56 6.8 0.009 1.69 (1.14–2.52)
  log [CRP] 115 0.001 1.40 (1.16–1.69)
 Bilirubin
  ≤1.0 mg/dl 224 9.7 1
  >1.0 mg/dl 58 7.2 0.003 1.62 (1.18–2.24)
  log [Bilirubin] <0.001 1.43 (1.20–1.70)
 CEA
  ≤4.5 ng/ml 102 10.3 1
  >4.5 ng/ml 101 9.0 0.054 1.35 (0.99–1.83)
  log [CEA] 0.053 1.07 (1.00–1.15)
 Hemoglobin
  ≥12 g/dl 115 9.0 1
  <12 g/dl 47 7.1 0.463 1.15 (0.79–1.67)
  log [Hemoglobin] 0.547 0.64 (0.15–2.73)

Bold values indicate statistical significance (p < 0.05)

* Defined as CA 19-9 < 2.6 U/ml