Meta-analysis shows lower albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio correlates with worse survival outcomes in head and neck cancer, suggesting its prognostic value.
The prognostic value of pretreatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in head and neck cancer (HNC) remains controversial. This meta-analysis investigated AAPR's predictive potential for survival outcomes in HNC patients. We conducted a comprehensive literature search across EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases through July 30, 2024. Eight studies comprising 1737 HNC patients were analyzed using random-effects models. The analysis revealed that lower AAPR values were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (HR = 2.08), progression-free survival (HR = 2.00), and disease-free survival (HR = 2.18). Sensitivity analyses confirmed result robustness, with no significant publication bias detected. These findings suggest that pretreatment AAPR could serve as a valuable and cost-effective prognostic indicator in HNC, potentially aiding clinicians in risk stratification and treatment decision-making. However, additional validation studies are warranted to confirm its clinical applicability.
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Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.
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