Prognostic Value of Leptin in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients.
- Author:
Ji Hyun HONG
1
;
So Jin LEE
;
Sang Mi KWAK
;
Youn Seon CHOI
;
June Yeong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. younseon@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Leptin;
Terminally ill;
Neoplasms;
Life expectancy;
Survival rate;
Hospice care
- MeSH:
Aged;
Bilirubin;
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms;
Hospice Care;
Humans;
Leptin;
Leukocyte Count;
Life Expectancy;
Plasma;
Survival Rate;
Terminally Ill
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2012;15(2):99-107
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Most terminally ill cancer patients die from cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. This study evaluated a prognostic role of plasma leptin levels in terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 69 terminally ill cancer patients who were aged above 20 years old from July 2009 to July 2010. For univariate analysis, an association between leptin levels and patient's characteristics or other variables was examined using Spearman's correlation analysis, Wilcoxon's rank-sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriately. For multivariable analysis, Cox's proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate a clinical significance of plasma leptin levels as a prognostic factor and to determine factors which affect the risk of death in terminally ill cancer patients. RESULTS: A statistically significant positive correlation between plasma leptin levels and survival time was found. Univariate Cox's proportional hazard regression analyses also showed a moderately significant association between plasma leptin levels and survival time. However, after adjusting variables for sex, white blood cell counts, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, albumin and CRP levels, plasma leptin levels were not significantly associated with survival time. CONCLUSION: No significant association was found between plasma leptin levels and survival time in terminally ill cancer patients. However, this study suggested a prognostic value of plasma leptin levels in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
