Objective: To evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels are associated with prognosis in surgically treated endometrial cancer.
Methods: In the present multicenter study, CRP serum levels were measured preoperatively in 403 surgically staged patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer. Results were correlated to clinical data.
Results: The mean (standard deviation) serum CRP level in patients with endometrial cancer was 1.0 (1.8) mg/dL. Serum CRP levels were associated with tumor stage (P=.01), but not with tumor grade (P=.8), lymph node involvement (P=.8), and age at diagnosis (P=.9). In a univariable survival analysis, serum CRP levels, tumor stage, tumor grade, and age at diagnosis were associated with disease-free and overall survival (all P <.001). In a multivariable Cox regression model, serum CRP levels (P=.001, P=.004), tumor stage (P <.001, P <.001), tumor grade (P=.02, P=.009), and age at diagnosis (P=.002, P=.001) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that elevated serum CRP levels are associated with a less favorable prognosis in patients with surgically treated endometrial cancer.
Level of evidence: II.