Dynamics of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predict outcomes of metastatic colorectal carcinoma patients treated by FOLFOX

The prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in colorectal cancer and colorectal anastomotic leakage patients: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence and predictive value of preoperative peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) index on the prognosis of colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) patients.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1016 patients who underwent radical resection for colorectal cancer at a single center between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023. In this study, NLR and PLR were analyzed before surgery. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed according to the postoperative survival status of the patients. Nomogram and calibration curve were established by proportional hazards model (COX) to verify its predictive value.

RESULTS

A total of 890 patients with colorectal cancer, 102 patients with CAL, and 788 patients with non- anastomotic leakage (AL) colorectal cancer were enrolled for a median follow-up of 96 months (quartile range 33-133). In this study, COX regression analysis showed that preoperative NLR and PLR could predict the prognosis of CAL patients, and the optimal cut-off points of NLR and PLR were 2.89 and 157.62, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve results showed that 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in the low NLR and PLR group were significantly higher than those in the high NLR and PLR group. OS and DFS were divided into high, low NLR and PLR groups. Finally, based on COX model, a nomogram analysis was conducted to analyze the risk factors affecting OS and DFS, and the accuracy and practicality of the model were verified by calibration curve and decision curve.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative NLR and PLR can predict the long-term prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and CAL patients, and patients with NLR ≥ 2.89 and PLR ≥ 157.62 have poor survival prognosis. Nomogram and calibration curve analysis will further improve the accuracy of OS and DFS prediction.

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for colorectal liver metastases: a multi-center cohort study

BACKGROUND

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a promising prognostic marker for patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, its prognostic value in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has not been sufficiently addressed.

METHODS

From 2013 to 2023, a cohort of 692 patients with CRLM receiving hepatectomy were enrolled in five centers. Clinicopathological characteristics were obtained from a prospectively maintained multi-center database. The effect of NLR (> 2 versus ≤ 2) on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate the influence of individual clinicopathological parameters on OS.

RESULTS

In the entire cohort, the median NLR level was 2.11 (0.30-16.33). There were 307 (44.4%) patients receiving NAT followed by hepatectomy, while 385 (55.6%) patients undergoing upfront surgery. Notably, patients in the NAT group showed significantly lower NLR level than those in the upfront surgery group (1.83 versus 2.32, P < 0.001). In the upfront surgery group, high NLR was significantly associated with worse OS, independent of other factors (HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.05, P = 0.02). In the NAT group, there was no significant difference in OS between the high NLR and low NLR group.

CONCLUSION

The prognostic value of NLR in surgically resected CRLM is potentially influenced by NAT in the modern era.

Increased neutrophil counts are associated with poor overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer: a five-year retrospective analysis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a major health concern in today's world. Despite conflictive findings, evidence supports systemic inflammation's impact on CRC patients' survival rates. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prognostic role of the innate immune system in patients with CRC.

Method

A total of 449 patients were included, with a 5-year follow-up period, and absolute neutrophil counts and their related ratios were measured.

Results

The non-survival group had increased levels of white blood cells, neutrophils (both p<0.001), and monocytes (p=0.038), compared to the survival group, along with other neutrophil-related ratios. We observed increased mortality risk in patients in the highest tertile of white blood cells [HR=1.85 (1.09-3.13), p<0.05], neutrophils [HR=1.78 (95% CI: 1.07-2.96), p<0.05], and monocytes [HR=2.11 (95% CI: 1.22-3.63)], compared to the lowest tertile, after adjusting for all clinicopathological variables. Random forest analysis identified neutrophils as the most crucial variable in predicting survival rates, having an AUC of 0.712, considering all clinicopathological variables. A positive relationship between neutrophil counts and metastasis was observed when neutrophil counts are considered continuous (β=0.92 (0.41), p<0.05) and tumor size (width) when neutrophils were considered as logistic variable (T1 vs T3) [OR=1.42, (95% CI: 1.05-1.98), p<0.05].

Conclusion

This study offers comprehensive insights into the immune factors that impact the prognosis of CRC, emphasizing the need for personalized prognostic tools.

Prognostic biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer: delta prognostic nutritional index, delta neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and delta platelet to lymphocyte ratio

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and their dynamic changes on survival outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC).

METHODS

The data of 199 patients with mCRC were retrospectively analyzed. To evaluate the temporal relation between the PNI, NLR, and PLR values and survival, pre-chemotherapy PNI, NLR, and PLR levels were assessed from peripheral blood cell counts on admission; post-chemotherapy PNI, NLR, and PLR levels were assessed with follow-up blood cell counts within two weeks after chemotherapy; and the difference between pre-chemotherapy PNI, NLR, and PLR levels and post-chemotherapy PNI, NLR, and PLR levels was evaluated as delta PNI, delta NLR, and delta PLR.

RESULTS

The median PNI, PLR, and NLR were 39.01, 150.2 and 2.53 before chemotherapy and 38.2, 146.6, and 3.31 after chemotherapy, respectively. The median OS was 23.7 months (95%CI:17.8-29.7) and 28.9 months (95%CI:24.8-33.08) for pre-chemotherapy PNI level < 39.01 vs. PNI level ≥ 39.01, respectively(p = 0.035) The positive delta PNI was significantly higher for OS than the negative delta PNI(p < 0.009). Delta PLR and delta NLR were not significant for OS and PFS(p > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study clearly show that the negative delta PNI to be an independent predictor of poor OS and poor PFS in patients with colon cancer who received first line treatment. In addition, delta NLR and delta PLR were shown not to predict survival outcomes.

Efficacy of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Cancer-Specific Survival in Elderly Patients with Localized Colon Cancer: A Single Center Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Purpose

The prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied for colorectal cancer. Elderly patients in general tend to have comorbidities and decreased organ function that potentially influence the NLR score. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NLR and cancer-specific survival in elderly patients with colon cancer, using a propensity score-matched analysis.

Patients and Methods

A total of 203 patients aged over 75 years who underwent curative resection for colon cancer and were diagnosed pathologically with stage II/III disease were eligible for entry to the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to NLR score: NLR-High (NLR≥4.5) group (NLR-H, n=60) and NLR-Low (NLR<4.5) group (NLR-L, n=143). After propensity score matching, 57 patients in each group were matched.

Results

Before matching, Charlson comorbidity index was significantly higher in the NLR-H group (4 vs 2, p<0.001). After matching, all factors were similar between the groups. The median follow-up period was 43 months (range, 1-160 months). Five-year relapse-free-survival (69.8% vs 87.3%, p=0.030) and cancer-specific survival (83.0% vs 96.0%, p=0.042) were significantly lower in the NLR-H group.

Conclusion

NLR appears to be a cancer-specific prognostic marker in elderly patients with colon cancer.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as an Early Predictor of Symptomatic Anastomotic Leakage in Patients after Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Background: This study aimed to explore the role of postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting symptomatic anastomotic leakage in patients who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data of patients who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection from May 2009 to May 2019. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the cut-off values with the best predictive efficacy of a symptomatic anastomotic leakage. In addition, a propensity score-matched analysis was performed by considering all covariate variables, and 61 patients with or without symptomatic anastomotic leakage were included in the analysis. Results: The present study included 306 patients; of these, 17 (5.56%) developed symptomatic anastomotic leakage after surgery. On postoperative day 5, compared with patients without symptomatic anastomotic leakage, those with leakage had significantly higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte levels. Notably, a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte cut-off score of 6.54 indicated the best area under the curve of 0.818 (95% confidence interval: 0.697−0.940, p < 0.001) in predicting symptomatic anastomotic leakage, with a sensitivity and specificity of 76.5% and 79.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Although evidence for the predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is accumulating, it remains inconclusive. In addition, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte levels should be considered a predictive biomarker for symptomatic anastomotic leakage; however, it can more accurately be viewed as an adjunct that helps increase the clinical suspicion of emerging symptomatic anastomotic leakage.

Expression and Predictive Value of Serum NLR, PLR Combined with SAA in Patients with Different Stages of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major causes of death in the world, and has become a serious threat to human life. The prognosis of CRC patients in different pathological stages is quite different, so it is necessary to evaluate the clinical stages of CRC patients before surgery. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serum amyloid A (SAA) and other indicators have been widely proved to play the role of early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring in chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. In this study, we collected clinical data of 103 patients with CRC confirmed by pathology in Yiwu Central Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. In addition, it aims to explore the expression and predictive value of NLR, PLR combined with SAA in patients with different stages of CRC, so as to provide reference for patients to choose a reasonable treatment plan. The results show that serum NLR, PLR combined with SAA can predict CRC staging effectively, which has certain auxiliary value for clinical decision-making.