C-reactive protein serum levels are closely associated with lymph node status, but not with prognosis in patients with vulvar cancer

Objective: To evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels can be used as prognostic parameter in patients with vulvar cancer. Study design: CRP serum levels were measured at the time of first diagnosis of squamous cell vulvar cancer. Sixty-seven patients were enrolled; results were correlated to clinical data. Results: Mean CRP serum levels in patients with vulvar cancer were 0.8 (0.80) mg/dL. CRP serum levels were significantly associated with lymph node involvement (p = 0.003), but not with tumor stage (p = 0.03), histological grade (p = 0.86) and patients' age (p = 0.64). Univariate analysis showed lymph node involvement, tumor stage and histological grade, but not CRP serum levels and patients' age to be associated with overall survival. A multivariable analysis determined only lymph node involvement as independent prognostic parameter for disease-free interval and overall survival. Conclusion: CRP serum levels are closely associated with lymph node status but cannot be used as prognostic parameter in patients with vulvar cancer. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.