Korean J Clin Oncol.  2016 Jun;12(1):19-24. 10.14216/kjco.16004.

In which group of gastric cancer patients is the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio a significant prognostic factor?

• Chang HS
• Han DS
• Bang HY
• Kim PS
• Lee KY

• KMID: 2360699
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14216/kjco.16004

Abstract

PURPOSE
Several recent studies have reported on the clinical importance and prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in gastric cancer. The objective of this study was to identify the subgroups of patients with gastric cancer for which the preoperative NLR was prognostically significant.
METHODS
Data from 870 patients who were among those who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer between August 2005 and December 2013 were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off value for NLR. The patients were classified into high-NLR (NLR≥1.7) and low-NLR (NLR<1.7) groups, and survival analysis of subgroups of gastric cancer patients was performed.
RESULTS
Univariate analysis identified age, gender, tumor location, tumor histology, tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage, and NLR as significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis identified age, TNM stage, and NLR as significant prognostic factors. In subgroup analysis, NLR was a significant prognostic factor except group of TNM stage I, II with age younger than 70 years.
CONCLUSION
Except group of TNM stage I, II with age younger than 70 years, careful postoperative follow-up is warranted for those patients with elevated NLR.

Keyword

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; Gastric cancer; Overall survival

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Metastasis
ROC Curve
Stomach Neoplasms*