When pre-palliative care factors were investigated, we found that female sex, old age, advanced tumor stage, poor KPS, and abnormal laboratory parameters (e.g., neutropenia, hypohemoglobinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperuricemia, elevated LDH or cystatin-C) were associated with an increased likelihood of death in the final phase. This evidence concerns the gene CST3 and neutropenia.