The relation between mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio and prognostic factors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: Identifying simple and reliable prognostic indicators in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important to optimize its management. The mean platelet volume/platelet count (MPV/PC) ratio may be of prognostic value in some clinical conditions including NSCLC.Aim: To investigate the relationship between MPV/PC ratio and some important prognostic factors in Egyptian NSCLC patients.Methods: Retrospective study that included 69 patients with stage III/IV NSCLC in the period from January 2010 to December 2012. The complete blood picture done before starting treatment was the one considered for the calculation of MPV/PC. The relation between MPV/PC ratio and patients and disease characteristics was studied.Results: More advanced stage was associated with lower average MPV/PC ratio. The average MPV/PC ratio was 0.45963 (95%CI: 0.38829- 0.53098) in patients with stage IIIA, 0.33873 (95%CI: 0.2854-0.39208) in stage IIIB and 0.32752 (95%CI: 0.28642- 0.36862) in stage IV (p=0.015).Similarly, higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was associated with lower MPV/PC ratio. The average MPV/PC ratio was 0.40949 (95%CI: 0.34959 – 0.46939) in patients with ECOG 1, 0.36369 (95%CI: 0.31009- 0.41724) in ECOG 2 and 0.28378 (95%CI: 0.24898 -0.31857) in ECOG 3 (p=0.004). Older patients had a significantly lower MPV/PC ratio (p=0.043).Conclusion: Low MPV/PC is associated with poor prognostic factors in NSCLC such as advanced stage and poor performance status. Future clinical studies to evaluate the prognostic value of MPV/PC ration in NSCLC are warranted.