Prognostic utility of the modified albumin-bilirubin score among patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for gallbladder cancer

Odysseas P. Chatzipanagiotou, Diamantis I. Tsilimigras, Giovanni Catalano, Andrea Ruzzenente, Federico Aucejo, Hugo P. Marques, Vincent Lam, Nazim Bhimani, Shishir K. Maithel, Itaru Endo, Minoru Kitago, Timothy M. Pawlik*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) has been associated with high rates of recurrence and dismal prognosis even after curative-intent resection. The prognostic utility of the modified albumin-bilirubin (mALBI) score among individuals undergoing curative-intent resection for GBC has not been determined. Methods: Patients who underwent radical resection for GBC between 2000 and 2022 were identified from an international, multi-institutional database. Preoperative albumin and bilirubin levels were used to calculate the mALBI score. The relationship among mALBI score, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was examined. Results: Among 269 patients who underwent radical resection for GBC, 161 (59.9%) had mALBI grade 1, 48 (17.8%) had grade 2a, 47 (17.5%) had grade 2b, and 13 (4.8%) had mALBI grade 3. After surgery, compared with patients with a low mALBI grade (grade 1/2a), individuals with a high mALBI grade (grade 2b/3) had worse 5-year OS (54.4% vs 19.2%, respectively; P < .001) and RFS (42.0% vs 17.8%, respectively; P < .001). On multivariable analysis, after controlling for relevant clinicopathologic variables, individuals with a high mALBI score remained independently associated with higher risks of death and recurrence (OS: hazard ratio [HR], 2.38 [95% CI, 1.50–3.79]; RFS: HR, 2.12 [95% CI 1.41–3.20]) versus patients with a low mALBI score after curative-intent resection for GBC. Of note, mALBI score was associated with incrementally worse survival within T2, T3, and N+ categories, whereas classic American Joint Committee on Cancer subclassifications failed to distinguish patients with long-term survival. Conclusion: The mALBI score presents a simple, objective measure of hepatic functional reserve and may be a useful prognostic tool for patients undergoing curative-intent resection for GBC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2075-2083
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume28
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Albumin
  • Bilirubin
  • Gallbladder cancer
  • Modified albumin-bilirubin
  • Prognosis

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