Serum C-reactive protein/albumin ratio as a prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Systemic inflammation in response to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been known to be a detrimental factor for the prognosis of the patients. Inflammation-based predictive biomarkers, like levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, have been associated with rise and decline, respectively, with the advancement of malignancy. A ratio of their serum levels is being recently advocated to be a better prognostic predictor. We evaluated the association of the ratio of serum CRP and albumin with the clinical stage and histological grade of OSCC.

Thirty-five histopathologically confirmed patients of OSCC were included in the study, and the serum levels of CRP, albumin, and ratio of the serum CRP and albumin levels were measured in patients with different clinical stages and histological grades of the OSCC.

Serum CRP levels showed a progressive statistically significant increase with the advancement of the clinical stage from stage I to stage IV and histological grade of OSCC. The serum levels of albumin exhibited a progressive decline, though statistically insignificant, with the advancement of clinical stage and histological grade of OSCC. The mean value of the ratio of serum CRP and albumin progressively increased with the clinical stage and histological grade of OSCC. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation of the ratio of serum CRP and albumin with the clinical stage of OSCC, although not with the histological grade of OSCC.

The ratio of serum CRP and albumin can be employed as a serological marker for the prognosis of OSCC and may aid in the postoperative monitoring of the patients with OSCC.