The predictive value of serum albumin levels in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer

Li Huiying; Xie Yu; Lin Yongjuan; Yu Tingting; Jiang Cheng; Yin Zhenyu

doi:10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.02.020

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Electronic Journal of Metabolism and Nutrition of Cancer ›› 2026, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (2) : 324-332. DOI: 10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.02.020

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The predictive value of serum albumin levels in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer

Li Huiying, Xie Yu, Lin Yongjuan, Yu Tingting, Jiang Cheng, Yin Zhenyu

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Abstract

Lung cancer ranks first in incidence and mortality among malignant tumors in China, with an increasing disease burden. In addition to traditional chemoradiotherapy, the continuous emergence of new targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs has ushered lung cancer treatment into the era of precision therapy. Reduced serum albumin (ALB) level is a common complication of lung cancer. In recent years, discussions on the role of ALB in the clinical management and precision treatment of lung cancer patients have been ongoing. This article reviews the latest research, elucidates the predictive value of ALB on the occurrence and progression of lung cancer, as well as the efficacy and safety of antitumor drugs. Furthermore, in addition to ALB as a standalone biomarker, the "albumin-related inflammatory markers" and "albumin-related nutritional markers" which combine ALB with other indicators, also hold reference value for the clinical management of lung cancer patients. This article emphasizes the importance of focusing on ALB in the medical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Key words

Lung cancer / Albumin / Hypoproteinemia / Diagnosis and treatment / Targeted therapy / Protein binding ratio / Prognostic / Biomarker

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Li Huiying, Xie Yu, Lin Yongjuan, Yu Tingting, Jiang Cheng, Yin Zhenyu. The predictive value of serum albumin levels in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer[J]. Electronic Journal of Metabolism and Nutrition of Cancer. 2026, 13(2): 324-332 https://doi.org/10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.02.020

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