Clinical Significance of the Prealbumin Level in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment

BACKGROUND: We investigated the clinical influence of the prealbumin level on the gastric cancer survival and recurrence after curative treatment. METHODS: This study included 447 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017. The risk factors for the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. RESULTS: A prealbumin level of 20 mg/dl was regarded as the optimal point of classification, considering the 3- and 5-year survival rates. The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 80.7% and 65.0% in the low-prealbumin group, respectively, and 93.1% and 87.9% in the high-prealbumin group, respectively, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 71.7% and 68.0% in the low-prealbumin group, respectively, and 90.1% and 84.7% in the high-prealbumin group, respectively, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.031). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the prealbumin level was a significant independent risk factor for the OS and RFS. In addition, the rate of introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly lower and the frequency of peritoneal recurrence and lymph node recurrence significantly higher in the low-prealbumin group than in the high-prealbumin group. CONCLUSION: Prealbumin is a risk factor for the survival in patients who undergo curative treatment for gastric cancer. It is necessary to develop an effective plan of perioperative care and surgical strategy according to the prealbumin level.