The Relationship Between the HALP Score and Gastric Cancer Prognosis

HALP Score in Gastric Cancer


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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10019807

Keywords:

Gastric cancer, HALP score, mortality, prognosis

Abstract

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. As most patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease, the prognosis is dismal. Therefore, researchers have developed various scoring systems to predict prognostic factors. One of these is the HALP scale, which consists of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocytes and platelets. This study aims to assess the utility of the HALP score as a prognostic tool in predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2018 and 2021 in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Gulhane Medical School Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences. A total of 158 patients who underwent surgery for the diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocytes and platelet values were obtained from patient files. HALP scores were calculated and correlations with clinicopathologic factors were investigated.

Results: We found a significant negative correlation between the HALP score and T stage and N stage. Increasing the HALP score increases the likelihood of early-stage disease (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001). We found a significant negative correlation between the HALP score and the number of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor diameter ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). One unit increase in HALP score leads to a 4.7 unit decrease in tumor diameter and a 14.8 unit decrease in metastatic lymph node count.

Conclusion: This study provides insights into the potential utility of the HALP score in predicting clinical outcomes for gastric cancer patients. While these findings are promising, research with large patient data is essential to validate the prognostic value of the HALP score and determine its clinical applicability. The HALP score may assist clinicians in risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making, and ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes in the management of gastric cancer.

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Published

2023-10-20

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Akgül, G. G. (2023). The Relationship Between the HALP Score and Gastric Cancer Prognosis: HALP Score in Gastric Cancer. Journal of European Internal Medicine Professionals, 1(4), 156–161. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10019807

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