Predictive role of peritumoral CD3+ infiltration and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio on overall survial in pateints affected by colorectal liver metastases treated with chemotherapy and surgery.

Abstract

27 Background: Systemic and local inflammation plays an important role in many cancers and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). While the role of local immune response mediated by CD3+ tumour infiltrating lymphocyte is well established new evidence on systemic inflammation and cancer such as neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are emerging. The aim of the study is to associate these two markers of inflammation to predict overall survival (OS) in patients affected by CRLM. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2013 128 consecutive patients affected by CRLM treated with chemotherapy and surgery were included in the study. CD3+ peritumoral infiltration was defined as the ratio of intra-tumoural\invasive-margin CD3+ infiltration evaluated with immunohistochemistry on CRLM tumor slides. NLR was calculated as neutrophil absolute count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count on blood sample. ROC curves were used to calculate a cut-off for each bio-markers related to OS . Associating the bio-markers two risk groups were determined: low risk (LRG) two protective bio-markers; high risk (HRG) no protective bio-markers. Results: After a median follow-up of 45 months, median OS was 44 months.Twenty-nine patients (22.6%) belong to the LRG whereas 99 patients (77,4) belong to HRG. Adjusted Cox regression analysis showed a worse OS for HRG patients (HR 2.74 p = 0.003 95%CI 1.40-5.37). Median OS was 80.8 vs 42.5 months for LRG vs HRG respectively. Conclusions: High CD3+ peritumoural infiltration associated with low NRL are two protective factor on OS for patients affected by CRLM.