Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-txr5j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-19T00:50:02.608Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Biomarkers and performance status as predictors of 30-day mortality in malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2020

Abstract

Introduction:

Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a serious condition requiring urgent palliative radiotherapy to alleviate symptoms and avoid permanent paralysis. The aim of this project was to analyse the 30-day mortality rate post-palliative radiotherapy for MSCC patients to identify if radiotherapy can be safely omitted or the fractionation reduced in the poor prognosis group (patients likely to die within 30 days) by biomarkers and performance status (PS).

Methods:

A retrospective audit was performed (July–December 2019) and data on treatment duration, date of death, biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin) and PS were collected using hospital patient management systems.

Results:

Hundred and one patients received palliative radiotherapy for MSCC in the 6-month period. The number of patients who died within 30 days was 17, representing 16·8% mortality rate. Rising CRP levels and poor PS indicated a poorer prognosis in this patient group.

Conclusion:

Monitoring biomarkers and PS as standard throughout patients’ treatment is recommended to assess disease progression. Worsening PS and high CRP is an indicator of poor prognosis and early death, and therefore omission of treatment or a single fraction of radiotherapy is recommended.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, 2019. http://www.cancerreferral.scot.nhs.uk/malignant-spinal-cord-compression/?alttemplate=guideline. Accessed on 22nd February 2020.Google Scholar
Cameron, J. An analysis of 30 day mortality post palliative radiotherapy for malignant spinal cord compression: can we safely reduce the fractionation for poor prognosis patients by using biomarkers and performance status? Poster Presentation UKIO Congress Online, 2020.Google Scholar
Cameron, J. Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) presentation before and during Covid-19. J Radiother Pract 2020; 13. doi: 10.1017/S1460396920000709 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Metastatic spinal cord compression overview, 2019. https://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/metastatic-spinal-cord-compression. Accessed on 21st February 2020.Google Scholar
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Metastatic spinal cord compression in adults: risk assessment, diagnosis and management, 2008. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg75. Accessed on 22nd February 2020.Google Scholar
Lees, K. Audit of 30 day mortality following palliative radiotherapy. Royal College of Radiologists, 2012. https://www.rcr.ac.uk/audit/audit-30-day-mortality-following-palliative-radiotherapy. Accessed on 20th February 2020.Google Scholar
Hoskin, P, Misra, V, Hopkins, K, et al. SCORAD III: Randomized noninferiority phase III trial of single-dose radiotherapy (RT) compared to multifraction RT in patients (pts) with metastatic spinal canal compression (SCC). ASCO Meeting Library, 2017. https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/145855/abstract. Accessed on 20th February 2020.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meeuse, J J, van der Linden, Y M, van Tienhoven, G, Gans, R O B, Leer, J W H, Reyners, A K L. Efficacy of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases during the last 12 weeks of life: results from the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study. Cancer 2010; 116 (11): 27162725.Google ScholarPubMed
Proctor, M J, Morrison, D S, Talwar, D et al. A Comparison of inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with cancer. A Glasgow Inflammation Outcome Study. Eur J Cancer 2011; 47: 26332641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, C S, Sun, CF. C-reactive protein and malignancy: clinico-pathological association and therapeutic implication. Chang Gung Med J 2009; 32 (5): 471482.Google ScholarPubMed
Lee, S, Choe, J W, Kim, H K, Sung, J. High sensitivity C reactive protein and cancer. J Epidemiol 2011; 21 (3): 161168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koenig, W, Khuseyinova, N, Baumert, J, Meisinger, C. Prospective study of high sensitivity C reactive protein as a determinant of mortality: results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg Cohort Study 1984–1998. Clin Chem 2008; 52 (2): 335342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gupta, D, Lis, C G. Pre-treatment serum albumin as a predictor of cancer survival: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature. Nutr J 2010; 9:69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMillan, D C, Watson, W S, O’Gorman, P, Preston, T, Scott, H R, McArdle, C S. Albumin concentrations are primarily determined by the body cell mass and the systemic inflammatory response in cancer patients with weight loss. Nutr Cancer 2001; 39: 210213.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oken, M, Creech, R, Tormey, D et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol 1982; 5:649655.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spencer, K, Morris, E, Dugdale, E et al. 30 day mortality following adult palliative radiotherapy. Royal College of Radiologists, 2015. https://www.rcr.ac.uk/audit/30-day-mortality-following-adult-palliative-radiotherapy. Accessed on 20th February 2020.Google Scholar
Oakland, JS. Total quality management and operational excellence: text with cases, Routledge, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uhi/detail.action?docID=1682288. Accessed on 30th March 2020.CrossRefGoogle Scholar