Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Score and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Indexes Used As Pretreatment Outcome Predictors in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Robotic or Open Whipple Procedures: A Logistic Regression Analysis

Abstract

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer (PC) in the United States. In patients with resectable PC, identification of pretreatment biomarkers before surgery can help in the decision-making process by weighing the benefits of neo-adjuvant therapy, surgical procedure, and adjuvant therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine if the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score and immune-inflammatory marker levels can be used in combination as pretreatment predictors of mortality risk in patients undergoing the Whipple procedure (alternatively, pancreatoduodenectomy (PD)) for PDAC. Methods This retrospective study included 115 patients with PDAC who underwent open or robotic Whipple procedures between January 2013 and December 2022 at a single tertiary medical center. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the association between predictors and mortality. Machine learning algorithms were used to calculate the performance of the different models. Results Bivariate analysis showed that the variables “sex” and “body mass index (BMI)” had a potential association with mortality, although statistical significance was not achieved for sex (p = 0.07). Patients with BMIs >25 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of mortality compared to patients with BMIs ≤24.9 kg/m 2 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.03-4.8, p = 0.04). Higher (more positive) ALBI scores (>-2.24) were also associated with increased mortality risk (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2-10.5, p = 0.0003). When the cutoff values of the inflammatory markers were used to categorize these variables, values greater than the cutoff values were associated with an increased risk of mortality. In the multivariate logistic regression model, an ALBI score >-2.24 (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 1.8-10.3, p = 0.0008), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3.5 (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.4-7.9, p = 0.007), and being a woman (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1-6.4, p = 0.03) remained influential predictors of increased mortality (c value = 0.77). Conclusion The ALBI score and the NLR are easily accessible markers; their use, combined with a patient’s sex, can provide useful pre-surgical information regarding mortality risk after PD. This can aid in treatment planning as well as expedite decisions about the type of Whipple procedure, adjuvant therapy, and surveillance, which can subsequently improve a patient’s outcomes and survival.

Prognostic Value of Liver Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Yttrium 90 Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE): A Retrospective Pilot Study

“…Studies in cancer have demonstrated that bilirubin suppresses CD4+ T cell responses, impacting antitumor immunity. Albumin, reflecting nutritional status and inflammation, influences patient survival [22]. The NLR mirrors the tumor immune microenvironment.…”

“…The NLR mirrors the tumor immune microenvironment. Research suggests that a particular neutrophil subpopulation may downregulate CD4+ T cell proliferation and activity [22]. These biomarkers hold promise for predicting outcomes and guiding HCC management.…”