Serum cholinesterase may independently predict prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Serum cholinesterase (ChE) was found to be involved in cancer initiation and progression. However, the survival association between serum ChE and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been extensively discussed. In the present study, we aim to elevate the role of ChE in overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients. METHODS: A total of 961 histologically confirmed NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2018 in a provincial cancer hospital in southwestern China were retrospectively selected. Relevant information, such as histological type, clinical stage, chemotherapy, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), important serum indicators (albumin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, ChE), date of death of the patients was extracted from the computerized hospital information system. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association between baseline serum ChE measured at the diagnosis and the OS of NSCLC patients. RESULTS: The median of baseline ChE (7700 units/liter) was used as a cut-off to dichotomize NSCLC patients. After controlling for possible confounding factors, serum ChE at diagnosis was significantly associated with OS of NSCLC: patients with higher level of ChE were observed a better prognosis (hazard ratio, HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67–0.93, p = 0.006). Subgroup analysis revealed significant ChE-OS association for NSCLC patients: with lower systemic inflammation level (baseline NLR < 2.95, HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56–0.89, p = 0.003), of adenocarcinoma (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.54–0.80, p < 0.001), in advanced stage (HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.66–0.92, p < 0.01), and received chemotherapy (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59–0.96, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Baseline ChE may have independent prognostic value for NSCLC patients. Longitudinal studies should be performed to corroborate this finding. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09212-0.