A confirmatory study evaluating the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was presented at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in Orlando Florida.

Historically, CRP has been associated with adverse outcomes in men with CRPC treated with docetaxel. This study, presented by R. Prins, MD, et al. at the ASCO annual meeting confirmed this information.

The researchers analyzed the baseline serum samples from 119 CRPC patients enrolled in 6 phase I or II clinical trials. They found that 91% of the men had metastases and 16% had prior chemotherapy exposure. Median follow-up time was 19.7 months at which time 89% of the men had died. In a multivariate model CRP (HR 1.09, p=0.036) was independently associated with survival. The risk of death was estimated to increase 8.7% for every doubling of the CRP.

This study clearly confirms that men with CRPC and with higher baseline CRP can anticipate worse survival. This information should be factored into your consideration as you make treatment decisions and/or consider whether to participate in a clinical trial.

This presentation was reported by the UroToday editor, Thomas J. Guzzo, MD, MPH, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

Joel T Nowak MA, MSW