Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Random Serum Cortisol as a Predictor for Survival of Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer: A Preliminary Study
Hyo Min Kim1, Kyung Sang Ha2, In Cheol Hwang3
1Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Although previous research found that serum cortisol levels were associated with cancer prognosis, it is unclear whether this association remains robust even at the very end of life of patients with cancer. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 125 patients with terminal cancer to investigate the role of random serum cortisol levels in predicting the remaining life expectancy. The high random cortisol group had a significantly shorter survival time than the low random cortisol group (7.5 vs 26 days). After adjusting for potential confounders, key factors such as poor performance status, hypoalbuminemia, and high random cortisol level are associated with poor survival. Our results suggest that the random serum cortisol level is an independent predictor of survival time of patients with terminally ill cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Survival Analysis
Comparing the Survival Analysis of Two or More Groups
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Assumptions of Survival Analysis
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
