A prognostic score based on clinical factors and biomarkers for advanced non-small cell lung cancer:

AimsThe objective of the present study is to determine the prognostic value of clinical variables and biomarkers in patients with advanced stages of NSCLC and establish a prognostic classification of these patients.MethodsFor 135 patients with advanced NSCLC we determined their clinical variables and their levels of CEA, CA 125, CYFRA 21–1, albumin, LDH, erythrosedimentation and leukocytes.ResultsMultivariate analysis identified PS (ECOG) >1, metastases, no anti-neoplastic treatment, CA 125 >35 U/mL, CYFRA 21–1 >3.3 ng/mL and leukocytes >10'000/μL, as independent prognostic factors for survival.Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the number of adverse prognostic factors (APF). One point was assigned for each APF, except for chemotherapy treatment. Patients with 0–1 APF represented our reference group: patients with 2–3 APF had HR=2.7 (95% CI: 1.5–4.6), while patients with 4–5 APF had HR=8.8 (95% CI: 4.6–16.8). This “score” maintained the differences between risk groups both in patients who...