HOST MARKERS AND PROGNOSIS IN RECURRENT RECTAL CARCINOMAS TREATED WITH RADIOTHERAPY

The value of blood tests as prognostic factors in patients with recurr ent rectal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy was studied in one ret rospective (n = 114, 1976-1984) and one prospective (n = 100, 1985-198 9) group of patients. The retrospective group was used for validation of the results from the prospective group. In univariate survival anal yses, 19 of totally 38 variables significantly correlated to the survi val. Of 13 significant blood parameters, lactate dehydrogenase (LD), e rythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alpha(1)-, alpha(2)-globulin, fib rinogen, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), C-reactive protein (CRP), hap toglobin, granulocytosis and thrombocytosis were the most important on es (p less than or equal to 0.01). In the multivariate analyses (Cox r egression) of the prospective group, LD, alpha(1)-globulin, diagnosed liver metastases and CEA were found to be significant predictors of su rvival. A prognostic index was derived from the prospective group incl uding ESR, LD and relapse-free interval. This clearly separated the pa tients in the retrospective group into one low- and one high-risk grou p.