J Gastric Cancer.  2013 Jun;13(2):111-116.

Clinical Significance of Preoperative Inflammatory Parameters in Gastric Cancer Patients

• Lee DY
• Hong SW
• Chang YG
• Lee WY
• Lee B

Abstract

PURPOSE
Chronic inflammation induces cancer and cancer induces local tissue damage with systemic inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between the severity of inflammation and prognosis in cancer patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study enrolled 220 patients from January 2002 to December 2006 who underwent gastric surgery. We evaluated the relationship between preoperative inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and other clinicopathological factors. Survival outcomes were compared according to the extent of inflammation.
RESULTS
Significant elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was related with old age, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, decreased hemoglobin, increased carcinoembryonic antigen, increased tumor size and advanced TNM stage. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly correlated with old age, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and advanced TNM stage. In the univariate analysis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio had significantly poorer survival than those without elevation (all P<0.05). However, the multivariate analysis failed to prove erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as independent prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS
The elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were correlated with poor prognosis in the univariate analysis and there was a strong correlation between inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and tumor progression. Thus, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are considered useful as follow-up factors.

Keyword

Inflammation; Blood sedimentation; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Stomach neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Blood Sedimentation
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Follow-Up Studies
Hemoglobins
Humans
Inflammation
Multivariate Analysis
Prognosis
Stomach Neoplasms
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Hemoglobins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Overall survival according to erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P=0.023).

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  Fig. 2 Overall survival according to neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P=0.018).

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