HALP score and albumin levels in men with prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia

Abstract

Aims To evaluate the diagnostic significance of the novel index combining preoperative haemoglobin, albumin levels, lymphocyte and platelet counts (HALP) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Methods Between 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018 at the Hitit University Erol Olcok Education and Research Hospital 225 patients who had undergone transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy or prostate surgery were analysed retrospectively. A total of patients, 155 had benign prostate hyperplasia (group 1) and 70 had PCa (group 2). The preoperative serum levels of haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte counts and platelet counts were recorded. The HALP scores and the sub-parameters of this index for each of the two groups were compared. Results The total Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), albumin and lymphocyte differences between the groups were statistically significant (P = 0.0002, P = 0.0001, P = 0.005). The median value of HALP scores in Group 1 and 2 were 49.43 and 51.2, respectively, and this was not statistically significant between groups (P =0 .737). The HALP score had the least Area Under Curve (AUC) value compared with the others (0.514). The AUC of Albumin was larger than PSA for diagnostic efficacy in PCa patients (0.696-0.656). However, albumin levels were statistically significant compared with platelet count and the HALP score (P = 0.0033, P = 0.0068), except PSA and lymphocyte (P = 0.4580, P =0 .1717). Conclusion Further prospective clinical studies that include more patients from multiple centres are needed to show the diagnostic role of the HALP score and its compounds on the patients with PCa.