To analyze the immunonutritional status of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in the preoperative period and assess the correlation between albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and TNM staging.
Approach:
Patient Selection: 21 patients with histopathological confirmation of CRC qualified for surgical resection were initially included, with 12 selected based on specific clinical criteria for detailed analysis.
Nutritional Status Assessment: Immunologically-related nutritional status parameters, AGR and PNI, were calculated, and an optimal cut-off value for PNI was determined.
Statistical Analysis: The relationship between AGR, PNI, and TNM staging was analyzed, with patients divided into PNI-low and PNI-high groups.
Key Findings:
67% of participants were classified as T3 in TNM staging.
50% of patients had lymph node metastasis, with no distant metastases observed.
Lymphocyte levels were reduced in the selected patients (22.03 ± 7.31%).
The optimal cut-off value for PNI was determined to be 51.74, with 34% of cases classified as PNI-low.
PNI-low was associated with more advanced cases based on T assessment, but not statistically significant (p = 0.515).
Lymph node metastasis was more frequent in the PNI-high group.
Interpretation:
While overall concentrations of albumin and total protein were normal, the link between PNI-low and locally advanced CRC cases may exist, warranting further clinical data for confirmation.
Limitations:
Small sample size of 12 patients for detailed analysis.
Statistical significance was not achieved for the association between PNI and T assessment.
Conclusion:
The study suggests a potential relationship between PNI and local pathological processes in CRC, with lymph node metastasis more often observed in the PNI-high group.
