Prediction of prognosis with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and pathological parameters in operated gastric cancer

Abstract

Objective: Inflammatory markers are of prognostic importance in many malignancies. This study aimed to examine the effects of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and pathological parameters on survival in preoperative complete blood counts in patients with operated gastric cancer.
 Material and Methods: Between 2012 and 2017, 281 patients were analyzed after total/subtotal gastrectomy. According to the ROC curve, we determined the cut-off values for NLR as 2.5 and PLR as 158. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from surgery to the last interview or to death.
 Results: In univariate analysis age ≥ 55 (p = 0.028), non-adeno hystology (p = 0.003), lenfovascular invasion (LVI) positivity (p = 0.003), perineural invasion (PNI) positivity (p < 0.001), T 3-4 stage (p = 0.006), lymph node involvement (LN) 2-3 (p < 0.001), metastatic stage (p < 0.001), NLR ≥ 2.5 ( p<0.001) and PLR ≥ 158 (p < 0.001) were statistically significant for OS. In multivariate analysis age (HR 0.652, 95% CI: 0.475-0.895; p = 0.008), PNI positivity (HR 0.493, 95% CI: 0.337-0.720; p<0.001), more lymph node involvement (HR: 0.608, 95% CI:0.412-0.896, p = 0.012), metastatic stage (HR 0.377, 95% CI: 0.265-0.537; p < 0.001) and PLR ≥ 158 (HR: 0.610; 95% CI: 0.433-0.859; p = 0.005) were found to be independent prognostic factors affecting OS.
 Conclusion: Age ≥ 55, PNI positivity, more lymph node involvement, metastatic stage, and PLR ≥ 158 are independent prognostic factors for shorter overall survival. Given the high morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer, besides classical known prognostic factors, parameters such as preoperative PLR may have benefits for forecast the prognosis of gastric cancer.