. 2024 Apr 15;24:468. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12201-0

Table 2.

Laboratory test results

		TM-positive group (N = 76)	TM-negative group (N = 59)
Inflammatory markers, n^#/N (%) med [IQR]
CRP, mg/L (N<5.0)	135/135 (100) 78.8 [35.3-141.4]	78.6 [44.7–124.0]	52.7 [25.7-149.5]	0.87	134.0 [67.9–172.0]	81.4 [35.1-139.1]	0.17	0.67
ESR^§, mm	40/135 (29.6) 61 [34.8–85.5]	11/41 (26.8) 58.0 [30.5–79.5]	8/35 (22.9) 70.0 [37.5–84.0]	0.89 0.39	3/9 (33.3) 79.5 [24 0.5-129.3]	18/50 (36.0) 63.0 [49.5–81.8]	1 0.11	0.25 0.39
Fibrinogen, g/L (N:1.8–3.5)	77/135 (57) 5.4 [4.2–6.8]	24/41 (58.5) 5.3 [4.6–6.7]	16/35 (45.7) 4.9 [3.6–6.2]	0.37 0.04	5/9 (55.3) 6.9 [3.9–8.2]	32/50 (64.0) 5.7 [4.2–2.1]	0.92 0.15	0.31 0.17
Haptoglobin, g/L (N:0.4–2.8)	25/41 (61.0) 2.6 [1.4–4.1]	8/13 (61.5) 3.2 [1.7–3.6]	2/8 (25.0) 1.4 [0.2–1.9]	NA < 1.10 ^− 4	2/2 (100) 5.4 [5.1–5.6]	13/18 (72.2) 2.6 [2.1–4.2]	NA 0.39	0.12 0.15
Ferritin, µg/l (N:10–241)	73/115 (63.4) 363.5 [157.5-706.5]	18/33 (54.6) 379 [137–558]	22/32 (68.8) 383 [240–692]	0.35 0.54	6/8 (75.0) 736.5 [289.5-953.5]	27/42 (64.3) 331.0 [153.7-672.3]	0.85 0.03	0.77 0.32
Albumin, g/L (N:32–46)	89/134 (66.4) 28.1 [25-34.1]	30/40 (75.0) 27.9 [24.9–31.9]	22/35 (62.9) 28.2 [25.4–34.6]	0.38 0.39	7/9 (77.8) 25.6 [23.5–30.2]	30/50 (60.0) 29. [24.0-35.4]	0.47 0.13	0.54 0.73
Inflammatory profile on SPE	69/117 (59.0)	15/27 (38.5)	17/33 (48.6)	0.96	6/9 (66 0.7)	31/48 (62.0)	1	0.27
Other laboratory variables, n/N (%) med [IQR]
WBCs, 10³/mm³(N:4.0–10.0)	47/135 (34.8) 8.1 [6.2–11.3]	16/41 (39.0) 8.5 [6.8–12.0]	13/35 (37.1) 7.9 [5.7–13.8]	1 0.59	4/9 (44.4) 10.3 [7.8–15.7]	14/50 (28.0) 7.9 [6.2–10.3]	0.58 0.01	0.45 0.26
Hemoglobin, g/dL (N:11.5–16)	69/135 (51.1) 11.4 [9.9–12.4]	22/41 (53.7) 11 [9.4–12.1]	21/35 (60.0) 11.4 [9.9–12.4]	0.75 1	4/9 (44.4) 11.5 [10.0-12.6]	22/50 (44.0) 11.5 [10.4–12.3]	1 0.89	0.27 0.43
Platelets, 10³/mm3 (N:150–400)	40/135 (29.6) 290 [226.5–431)	10/41 (24.4) 278.5 [230.8-396.5]	10/35 (28.6) 520 [469.3-615.5]	0.88 0.83	1/9 (11.1) 254.0 [241.3-294.5]	19/50 (38.0) 304.5 [237.0-463.5]	NA 0.22	0.45 0.46
LDH, U/L (N:120–246)	102/107 (95.3) 660 [354–602]	31/32 (96.9) 520.5 [382.7-746.5]	23/25 (92.00) 435.0 [354–582]	0.83 NA	7/7 (100) 341 [308–593]	41/43 (95.4) 414 [351–560]	1 NA	1 1
Blood TMs, n^# /N (%) med [IQR]
CEA, µg/L (N < 2.5-5)	28/128 (21.9) 1.5 [0.9-3.0]	17/40 (42.5) 2.7 [1.0–6.0]	11/35 (31.4) 1.7 [1.2–3.9]	0.06 NA	0/8 1.5 [1.0-2.2]	0/45 1.1 [0.8–1.9]	NA NA	NA NA
Total PSA, ng/mL (N < 4)	10/66 (13.3) 1.4 [0.6–2.8]	4/17(23.5 )1.4 [0.7–3.6]	6/19 (31.6) 2.4 [1.2–4.6]	0.60 NA	0/5 0.7 [0.4–1.6]	0/25 1.2 [0.5–1.9]	NA NA	NA NA
AFP, ng/mL (N < 8)	7/118 (5.9) 3.0 [1.9–4.5]	5/35 (14.3) 3.5 [2.4–4.6]	2/31 (6.5) 3.3 [2.1–4.2]	NA NA	0/7 3.3 [1.7–4.4]	0/45 2.2 [1.7–3.5]	NA NA	NA NA
CA 125, U/mL (N < 35)	38/96 (39.6) 18.0 [9.6–61.9]	22/31 (71.0) 124.5 [28.6-210.9]	16/27 (59.3) 38.4 [11.9–57.3]	0.51 NA	0/6 15.0 [9.2–17.8]	0/32 9.5 [6.7–13.1]	NA NA	NA NA
CA 15 − 3, U/mL (N < 32.4)	17/91 (18.7) 17.4 [11-26.4]	11/30 (36.7) 25.7 (17.3–65.9]	6/25 (24.0) 17.7 [11.2–31.5]	0.46 NA	0/5 11.2 [10.9–15.2]	0/31 12.60 [7.5–17.8]	NA NA	NA NA
CA 19 − 9, U/mL (N < 37)	19/121(15.7) 11.6 [7.8–21.7]	15/34 (44.1) 19.5 [8.9-218.9]	4/34 (11.8) 13.9 [8.4–28.4]	0.004 NA	0/9 9.7 [5.3–10.1]	0/44 10.1 [6.4–14.1]	NA NA	NA NA
Calcitonin, pg/mL (N < 10)	6/55 (10.9) 4.4 [2.8–10.8]	1/17 (5.9) 4.3 [3.2–5.9]	5/17 (29.4) 15.0 [9.0-19.5]	NA NA	0/3 3.8 [3.5–4.2]	0/18 1.6 [0.9–3.6]	NA NA	NA NA
NSE, µg/L (N < 18.3)	19/63 (30.2) 12 [9.8–22]	12/22 (54.6) 22.4 [10.3–45.7]	7/20 (35.0) 12.2 [9.7–20.4]	0.33 NA	0/4 10.3 [9.8–12.1]	0/17 10.8 [8.5–13.8]	NA NA	NA NA

TM-positive group
(N = 76)

TM-negative group
(N = 59)

Total
(N = 135)

Cancer
(N = 41)

No cancer
(N = 35)

Cancer
(N = 9)

No cancer
(N = 50)

p**

p***

Inflammatory markers,

n^#/N (%)

med [IQR]

CRP, mg/L (N<5.0)

135/135 (100)

78.8 [35.3-141.4]

78.6 [44.7–124.0]

52.7 [25.7-149.5]

0.87

134.0 [67.9–172.0]

81.4 [35.1-139.1]

0.17

0.67

ESR^§, mm

40/135 (29.6)

61 [34.8–85.5]

11/41 (26.8)

58.0 [30.5–79.5]

8/35 (22.9)

70.0 [37.5–84.0]

0.89

0.39

3/9 (33.3)

79.5 [24 0.5-129.3]

18/50 (36.0)

63.0 [49.5–81.8]

0.11

0.25

0.39

Fibrinogen, g/L (N:1.8–3.5)

77/135 (57)

5.4 [4.2–6.8]

24/41 (58.5)

5.3 [4.6–6.7]

16/35 (45.7)

4.9 [3.6–6.2]

0.37

0.04

5/9 (55.3)

6.9 [3.9–8.2]

32/50 (64.0)

5.7 [4.2–2.1]

0.92

0.15

0.31

0.17

Haptoglobin, g/L (N:0.4–2.8)

25/41 (61.0)

2.6 [1.4–4.1]

8/13 (61.5)

3.2 [1.7–3.6]

2/8 (25.0)

1.4 [0.2–1.9]

< 1.10 ^− 4

2/2 (100)

5.4 [5.1–5.6]

13/18 (72.2)

2.6 [2.1–4.2]

0.39

0.12

0.15

Ferritin, µg/l (N:10–241)

73/115 (63.4)

363.5 [157.5-706.5]

18/33 (54.6)

379 [137–558]

22/32 (68.8)

383 [240–692]

0.35

0.54

6/8 (75.0)

736.5 [289.5-953.5]

27/42 (64.3)

331.0 [153.7-672.3]

0.85

0.03

0.77

0.32

Albumin, g/L (N:32–46)

89/134 (66.4)

28.1 [25-34.1]

30/40 (75.0)

27.9 [24.9–31.9]

22/35 (62.9)

28.2 [25.4–34.6]

0.38

0.39

7/9 (77.8)

25.6 [23.5–30.2]

30/50 (60.0)

29. [24.0-35.4]

0.47

0.13

0.54

0.73

Inflammatory profile on SPE

69/117 (59.0)

15/27 (38.5)

17/33 (48.6)

0.96

6/9 (66 0.7)

31/48 (62.0)

0.27

Other laboratory variables,

n/N (%)

med [IQR]

WBCs, 10³/mm³(N:4.0–10.0)

47/135 (34.8)

8.1 [6.2–11.3]

16/41 (39.0)

8.5 [6.8–12.0]

13/35 (37.1)

7.9 [5.7–13.8]

0.59

4/9 (44.4)

10.3 [7.8–15.7]

14/50 (28.0)

7.9 [6.2–10.3]

0.58

0.01

0.45

0.26

Hemoglobin, g/dL (N:11.5–16)

69/135 (51.1)

11.4 [9.9–12.4]

22/41 (53.7)

11 [9.4–12.1]

21/35 (60.0)

11.4 [9.9–12.4]

0.75

4/9 (44.4)

11.5 [10.0-12.6]

22/50 (44.0)

11.5 [10.4–12.3]

0.89

0.27

0.43

Platelets, 10³/mm3 (N:150–400)

40/135 (29.6)

290 [226.5–431)

10/41 (24.4)

278.5 [230.8-396.5]

10/35 (28.6)

520 [469.3-615.5]

0.88

0.83

1/9 (11.1)

254.0 [241.3-294.5]

19/50 (38.0)

304.5 [237.0-463.5]

0.22

0.45

0.46

LDH, U/L (N:120–246)

102/107 (95.3)

660 [354–602]

31/32 (96.9)

520.5 [382.7-746.5]

23/25 (92.00)

435.0 [354–582]

0.83

7/7 (100)

341 [308–593]

41/43 (95.4)

414 [351–560]

Blood TMs,

n^# /N (%)

med [IQR]

CEA, µg/L (N < 2.5-5)

28/128 (21.9)

1.5 [0.9-3.0]

17/40 (42.5)

2.7 [1.0–6.0]

11/35 (31.4)

1.7 [1.2–3.9]

0.06

0/8

1.5 [1.0-2.2]

0/45

1.1 [0.8–1.9]

Total PSA, ng/mL (N < 4)

10/66 (13.3)

1.4 [0.6–2.8]

4/17(23.5

)1.4 [0.7–3.6]

6/19 (31.6)

2.4 [1.2–4.6]

0.60

0/5

0.7 [0.4–1.6]

0/25

1.2 [0.5–1.9]

AFP, ng/mL (N < 8)

7/118 (5.9)

3.0 [1.9–4.5]

5/35 (14.3)

3.5 [2.4–4.6]

2/31 (6.5)

3.3 [2.1–4.2]

0/7

3.3 [1.7–4.4]

0/45

2.2 [1.7–3.5]

CA 125, U/mL (N < 35)

38/96 (39.6)

18.0 [9.6–61.9]

22/31 (71.0) 124.5 [28.6-210.9]

16/27 (59.3)

38.4 [11.9–57.3]

0.51

0/6

15.0 [9.2–17.8]

0/32

9.5 [6.7–13.1]

CA 15 − 3, U/mL (N < 32.4)

17/91 (18.7)

17.4 [11-26.4]

11/30 (36.7)

25.7 (17.3–65.9]

6/25 (24.0)

17.7 [11.2–31.5]

0.46

0/5

11.2 [10.9–15.2]

0/31

12.60 [7.5–17.8]

CA 19 − 9, U/mL (N < 37)

19/121(15.7)

11.6 [7.8–21.7]

15/34 (44.1)

19.5 [8.9-218.9]

4/34 (11.8)

13.9 [8.4–28.4]

0.004

0/9

9.7 [5.3–10.1]

0/44

10.1 [6.4–14.1]

Calcitonin, pg/mL (N < 10)

6/55 (10.9)

4.4 [2.8–10.8]

1/17 (5.9)

4.3 [3.2–5.9]

5/17 (29.4)

15.0 [9.0-19.5]

0/3

3.8 [3.5–4.2]

0/18

1.6 [0.9–3.6]

NSE, µg/L (N < 18.3)

19/63 (30.2)

12 [9.8–22]

12/22 (54.6)

22.4 [10.3–45.7]

7/20 (35.0)

12.2 [9.7–20.4]

0.33

0/4

10.3 [9.8–12.1]

0/17

10.8 [8.5–13.8]

Legends CRP: C-reactive protein

ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate

LDH: lactate dehydrogenase, NA: not applicable

IQR: interquartile range

SPE: serum protein electrophoresis

TM: tumor marker

WBC: white blood cell

^# number of patients with a value above the upper normal boundary set by the central laboratory (except for albumin and hemoglobin, where the value was below the lower normal boundary)

^§ according to Sox et al. (Sox and Liang 1986)

* TM-positive patients with cancer vs. TM-positive patients without cancer

** TM-negative patients with cancer vs. TM-negative patients without cancer

*** TM-positive patients vs. TM-negative patients