The value of acute-phase protein measurements after curative gastric cancer surgery

Objective: To determine whether acute-phase protein measurement provides clinically useful information about tumor recurrence. Patients and Methods: Acute-phase serum protein levels were measured at regular intervals in 43 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. At 12 months after surgery, patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of a C-reactive protein response, and were followed up for a minimum of 12 months or until death. Results: There was a significant difference (P=.02) in a recurrence rate between patients with a C-reactive protein response (3 of 4 patients) and those without such a response (4 of 39 patients). Moreover, serum levels of C4 and alpha(1)-antitrypsin 12 months after surgery in patients who eventually recurred were significantly (P<.05) higher than those in a group without recurrence. Conclusion: An acute-phase protein response may be a predictive factor in the early stages of tumor recurrence. Acute-phase protein measurement provided clinically useful information about tumor recurrence after curative gastric cancer surgery.