Serum zinc concentration and extracellular water/total body water ratio on admission may be independent predictors of the prognosis of patients with terminal colorectal cancer.

Objectives: In palliative care, it is important to accurately predict the prognosis of patients with cancer. Therefore, we aimed to identify prognostic factors for patients with terminal colorectal cancer. Methods: Of the 756 patients with terminal cancer admitted for palliative care who subsequently died over a 3-year period starting in April 2018, 59 (7.8%) had colorectal cancer, did not die within 7 days of admission, and were studied. At admission, the circulating concentrations of cachexia-related proteins, tumor markers, and essential trace elements were measured. Additionally, body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance analysis using an InBody S10. Prognostic factors were identified using multivariate analysis. Results: =0.0037) were independent prognostic factors. The optimal cutoff value of ECW/TBW to categorize 4-week survival was calculated to be 0.421. Conclusions: The serum Zn concentration and the ECW/TBW ratio were shown to be independent predictors of the prognosis of patients with terminal colorectal cancer at the commencement of palliative care.