The AST/ALT Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Marker for Disease-free Survival in Stage II and III Colorectal Carcinoma

Abstract

Background/aim: The Aspartate aminotransaminase/Alanine aminotransaminase ratio (AST/ALT ratio) has been identified as a prognostic marker for several malignancies. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of the AST/ALT ratio in a large cohort of non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients (CRC).

Patients and methods: A total of 536 patients with stage II and III CRC, as well as available AST/ALT ratio were included in this single-center retrospective analysis. Laboratory data were measured within two weeks before histological tumor diagnosis. Co-Primary endpoints for this analysis were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results: In univariate cox regression DFS was significantly shorter in patients with an elevated AST/ALT ratio (HR=1.568, 95%CI=1.10-2.23, p=0.012). In multivariable analysis, the prognostic association between an elevated AST/ALT ratio and a poor survival prevailed statistically significant (HR=1.53, 95%C=1.05-2.22, p=0.026). No statistically significant association between the AST/ALT ratio and OS was observed (HR=1.4, 95% CI=0.89-2.22, p=0.14).

Conclusion: In this study, the serum AST/ALT ratio emerged as a valid prognostic marker for DFS in non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients at stage II and III.

Keywords: AST/ALT ratio; Colorectal cancer; disease free survival; prognosis; transaminases.