Assessment of the albumin-bilirubin score in breast cancer patients with liver metastasis after surgery()

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the potential prognostic value of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score in breast cancer patients with liver metastasis after surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 178 breast cancer patients with liver metastasis after surgery. ALBI score was calculated by the following formula: (log10 bilirubin × 0.66) − (albumin × 0.085). The optimal cutoff value of ALBI score was assessed by X-tile. The clinical influence of ALBI score on survival outcomes using Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test, Cox proportional hazards regression model. The calibration curves, decision curve analysis and time-dependent ROC curve were used to assess the predictive performance of the nomogram's models. RESULTS: The classifications of 178 breast cancer patients with liver metastasis after surgery were as follows: low ALBI score group (＜−3.36) vs. high ALBI score group (≥−3.36). The Cox proportional hazards regression model indicated that ALBI score was a potential predictor. Kaplan-Meier survival curve performed that the median disease free survival (p = 0.0029) and overall survival (p＜0.0001) in low ALBI score group were longer than in high ALBI score group. The ALBI-based nomograms had good predictive performance. CONCLUSIONS: The ALBI score has high prognostic ability for survival time in breast cancer with liver metastasis after surgery. These models will be valuable in discriminating patients at high risks of liver metastasis.