Plasma MIC-1 correlates with systemic inflammation but is not an independent determinant of nutritional status or survival in oesophago-gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1(MIC-1) is a potential modulator of systemic inflammation and nutritional depletion, both of which are adverse prognostic factors in oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC). METHODS: Plasma MIC-1, systemic inflammation (defined as plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) of >= 10 mg l(-1) or modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) of >= 1),and nutritional status were assessed in newly diagnosed OGC patients (n = 293). Healthy volunteers (n = 35) served as controls. RESULTS: MIC-1 was elevated in patients (median 1371 pg ml(-1); range 141-39 053) when compared with controls (median 377 pg ml(-1); range 141-3786; P= 1 or plasma CRP of >= 10 mg l(-1) (median 9 mg l(-1); range 1-200). MIC-1 correlated positively with disease stage (r(2) = 0.217; P CONCLUSIONS: There is no independent link between plasma MIC-1 levels and depleted nutritional status or survival in OGC. British Journal of Cancer (2010) 102, 665-672. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605532 www.bjcancer.com Published online 26 January 2010 (C) 2010 Cancer Research UK