Postoperative renormalization of C-reactive protein with adjuvant lienal polypeptide and its association with tumour recurrence in T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on tumour recurrence following curative nephrectomy in patients with stage T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). METHODS: Patients with stage T1 CCRCC were recruited. CRP was quantified 3 days before and 4 weeks after surgery. Patients were followed-up for clinical outcome every 3 months. A subset of patients received lienal polypeptide as adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: Patients with elevated preoperative CRP levels (≥8.2 mg/l; n = 61) had higher grade tumours, were more likely to require radical nephrectomy and were more likely to experience recurrence than those with normal CRP levels. Non-normalization of elevated preoperative CRP was associated with tumour recurrence, but elevated CRP was not an independent risk factor of tumour recurrence. CONCLUSION: Postoperative renormalization of elevated CRP is associated with decreased risk of recurrence in CCRCC.