Association between serum fibroblast growth factor 21 level and clinical prognosis in Chinese patients with resectable colon cancer

Background: and aim: Several aspects of the correlation between colon cancer and hemostatic markers are still unknown to many researchers in the field. In this study, we evaluated the association between serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) level and colon cancer. Methods This study included 424 patients with colon cancer (mean age 67.79 years; 37.97% female 62.03% male). Serum FGF21 levels were quantified by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Patients with negative lymph nodes or venous invasion showed a significantly lower serum FGF21 level than their counterparts (all P  < 0.001). Higher serum concentrations of FGF-21 were statistically significantly associated with greater odds of developing lymph nodes or venous invasion. After adjusting for potential confounders and when compared with the lowest quartile of FGF-21, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for venous invasion in the third and fourth quartile were 2.59 (95% CI, 1.17–5.76) and 18.43 (95% CI, 8.11–41.89), respectively (both P  < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed that serum FGF21 level higher than 462.21 pg/ml suggested the occurrence of venous invasion. Conclusions Serum FGF21 level was an independent risk factor for lymph nodes or venous invasion in Chinese patients with resectable colon cancer. The risk of venous invasion increased 16 times when the serum FGF21 level higher than 462.21 pg/ml.