Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although the red cell distribution width (RDW) has been
reported as a reliable predictor of prognosis in several types of cancer, to
our knowledge the prognostic value of RDW in gastric carcinoma has not been
studied, so far. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the role of red cell
distribution width (RDW) in predicting prognosis in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: All gastric cancer patients who underwent
curative surgery (n= 172, 110M/62F) over a five-year study period were
evaluated. Data on demographics, preoperative RDW levels, tumor
characteristics (early stage: I and II, advanced stage: IIIA-B-C),
disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively reviewed.
Patients were classified as high RDW group (RDW ≥ 16, n= 62) or low RDW
group (RDW < 16, n= 110). RESULTS: Overall mortality and postoperative 60-day mortality in
both groups were 55% and 14%, respectively. A borderline significant
association between RDW (0.063) and mortality was noted. Preoperative RDW
levels were significantly higher in patients with short-term mortality
(17.9 ± 4.3 vs. 16 ± 3.2, p= 0.015). In high RDW group, the incidence
of advanced gastric cancer was significantly higher (75 vs. 51%,
p= 0.002), whereas DFS (0.035) and OS (p= 0.04) were lower. CONCLUSION: The frequency of advanced cancer was high in patients
with high RDWvalues. High RDW values were strongly associated with
short-term mortality although only a borderline relationship with overall
survival was observed.
Keywords: Gastric cancer, red cell distribution width, staging, prognosis
