Abstract:

Purpose: This study aims to systematically evaluate the relationship between baseline blood count levels, simply and basically initiated, and treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 123 locally advanced rectal cancer patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. Pre-treatment Hb level was assessed as an independent variable for the whole study sample.The primary endpoint was the impact of pre-treatment Hb levels on overall survival.  Results: At a median follow-up of 40.3 months (1,4-92 months). A Hb cut-off value of 12.5 g/dl (AUC=0.673, 95% 0.564-0.781) was identified by using ROC analysis. Following the stratification of patients at this cut-off point into two groups: normal-Hb (nHb; Hb>12) and low-Hb (dHb≤12), the comparative survival analysis demonstrated that the patients in the nHb group had significantly increased OS than those in the dHb group, and retained its independent significant association with survival outcomes in the multivariate analysis.  Conclusion: Knowledge of pre-treatment hematological parameters appears to be an important prognostic factor in patients with rectal carcinoma.

Keywords: