Biliary drainage improves the predictive value of modified Glasgow Prognostic Scores in inoperable pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of biliary drainage to cholangitis on modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS: mGPS was calculated before and after biliary drainage in 47 consecutive patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. Biliary drainage was indicated for malignant obstructive jaundice that prevented the administration of chemotherapy. To elucidate mGPS values, serum levels of CRP and albumin were measured at the time of diagnosis (before biliary drainage). Overall survival was evaluated and risk factors, which contribute to overall survival, were examined.

RESULTS: Biliary drainage was performed in 15 patients. Using values obtained before biliary drainage, there were no significant differences in median survival time between patients with a mGPS of 0 and those with a mGPS of 1 or 2 (10.7 vs. 9.4 months; p = 0.757). However, using values obtained after biliary drainage, median survival time was significantly higher in patients with a mGPS of 0 than in those with a mGPS of 1 or 2 (11.4 vs. 4.7 months; p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed that a mGPS of 1 or 2 (HR: 3.38; 95% CI: 1.35-8.46, p = 0.009), a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 >1000 U/mL (2.52; 1.22-5.23, p = 0.013), a performance status of 2 (7.68; 2.72-21.28, p = 0.001), carcinoembryonic antigen level >10 ng/mL (2.29; 1.13-4.61, p = 0.021) were independently associated with overall survival.

CONCLUSION: mGPS values obtained after biliary drainage appear to be a more reliable indicator of overall survival in patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer.