Dynamic alterations in plasma adiponectin levels after surgery as a prognostic factor for gastric cancer: A prospective cohort study

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally. Adiponectin (APN) has been shown to have varying associations with malignancies. Although its inhibitory effect on tumor growth, its specific role in GC remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic value of dynamic APN levels in GC patients and its association with clinical and pathological features. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 68 newly diagnosed GC patients. Plasma APN levels were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 4 time points (preoperative and postoperative on day 1, day 7, and day 30). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. APN levels dropped markedly on day 1 postoperative (P = .002), gradually recovered by day 7, and approached preoperative levels by day 30. Body mass index was significantly lower in the high preoperative adiponectin concentration in plasma group compared to the low preoperative adiponectin concentration in plasma group (P = .001), while differences in age and gender were not statistically significant (P > .05). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, both tumor size (P = .001) and CA72.4 levels (P = .003) emerged as significant predictors of postoperative mortality in GC patients. Importantly, elevated APN levels on postoperative day 1 demonstrated a statistically significant association with reduced overall survival (P = .005; Exp(B) = 1.208). The study demonstrated that APN levels fluctuate dynamically over time and carry significant prognostic value in GC. Further research is needed to validate its clinical impact.