Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio before chemoradiotherapy represents a prognostic predictor for locally advanced rectal cancer

The predictive value of LGR for distant metastasis-free survival in locally advanced rectal cancer patients

Studies show that inflammation induced by cancer is a key factor in carcinogenesis. Here, we sought to assess the relationship between patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and the lymphocyte to neutrophil granulocyte ratio (LGR) prior to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of 326 LARC patients who underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, we were able to determine the ideal LGR cutoff value. We used the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate and multivariate Cox regression to study the clinical characteristics of LARC patients in comparison between the low LGR group and the high LGR group. DMFS analysis was one of the primary clinical variables examined. We discovered that the low LGR group of LARC patients had a longer DMFS than the high LGR group. The median duration of follow-up for LARC patients was 89.4 months, with a significantly lower DMFS observed in the high LGR group compared to the low LGR group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that LARC patients with low LGR levels, early ypTNM stages, and BRAF wild had longer DMFS. LGR prior to nCRT was a critical prognostic indicator that contributed extra predictive value beyond conventional clinicopathological characteristics to predict the outcome of LARC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by TME surgery.

Prognostic role of preoperative inflammatory markers in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer

Background

Inflammatory response markers are prognostic factors for several cancers, but their role in postoperative colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. The purpose was to evaluate the role of preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte-ratio (PLR), and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio (LMR) in the prognosis of postoperative CRC patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 448 CRC patients who had undergone surgical resection from December 2015 to December 2017 in our hospital. The plasma NLR, PLR, LMR, CEA, and CA19-9 were collected within 2 weeks before the operation. We recorded the clinical characteristics and survival data by reviewing medical records and phone calls. We analyzed preoperative inflammatory markers and clinical features using Pearson chi-squared tests or Fisher's tests. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed, and overall survival (OS) was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

High NLR and PLR were associated with worse overall survival in postoperative CRC (HR = 2.140, 95%CI = (1.488-3.078), P < 0.001; HR =1.820, 95%CI = (1.271-2.605), P = 0.001). High LMR was associated with improved overall survival in postoperative CRC (HR = 0.341, 95%CI = (0.188-0.618), P < 0.001). In the multivariate regression analysis, the increase of NLR resulted in an increase in the risk of death (HR = 1.678, 95%CI = (1.114-2.527), P = 0.013), and for the LMR, a reduction of the risk of death (HR = 0.480, 95%CI = (0.256 - 0.902), P = 0.023). Moreover, TNM stage, CA-199, CEA, nerve or vascular invasion (NVI) and adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery also were associated with worse overall survival in postoperative CRC.

Conclusion

Current evidence indicates that preoperative inflammatory markers NLR, LMR, and PLR are associated with overall survival in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer. NLR is an independent risk factor, and LMR is an independent protective factor in CRC patients after surgery.

Prognostic role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in operated rectal cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays an important role in tumor growth. Novel serum blood biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), have been proposed as useful prognostic indexes in cancer patients. However, their role in rectal cancer is controversial.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted including MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through May 2022. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Quality was appraised with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. Aim of the study was to summarize available literature on PLR, NLR, and LMR in patients with rectal cancer undergoing resection.

RESULTS

Forty-seven observational studies (14,205 patients) were included; there were 42 retrospective and 5 prospective cohort studies with an average MINORS score of 14.6 (range: 12-18). Worse overall survival was associated with high NLR (HR 1.81; 95%CI 1.52-2.15; p < 0.001), high PLR (HR 1.24; 95%CI 1.06-1.46; p = 0.009), and low LMR (HR 0.67; 95%CI 0.49-0.91; p = 0.01). High NLR and low LMR were also associated with disease-free-survival (HR 1.68; 95%CI 1.35-2.08; p < 0.001 and HR 0.71; 95%CI 0.58-0.87; p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

NLR, PLR, and LMR are independent clinical predictors for overall survival in patients with rectal cancer treated with curative surgery. NLR and LMR are also good predictors for disease free survival. These biomarkers, which are readily available, appear optimal prognostic indexes and may help clinicians predict the prognosis of rectal cancer and develop individualized treatment strategies.

Programmed cell death ligand 1 expression on monocytes is inversely correlated with tumour response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer

AIM

The clinical efficacy of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is largely dependent on host immune status. The aim of this study was to identify possible markers expressed on circulating mononuclear cells to predict tumour response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 47 patients diagnosed with LARC before and after CRT. The numbers of lymphocytes and monocyte subsets were analysed using flow cytometry. Based on clinical and pathological findings, patients were classified as high or low responders.

RESULTS

Lymphocyte counts were markedly decreased after CRT. Total numbers of lymphocytes (p = 0.030) and CD4(+) T cells (p = 0.041) in post-CRT samples were significantly lower in low responders than in high responders. In contrast, monocyte counts were not reduced and the number of CD14^dim (+) CD16(+) nonclassical (patrolling) monocytes were somewhat increased after CRT (p = 0.050). Moreover, the ratios of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) (+) cells on patrolling monocytes before and after CRT were significantly higher in low responders than in high responders (p = 0.0046, p = 0.0006). The same trend was observed for classical and intermediate monocytes. The expression of PD-L1 on patrolling monocytes before CRT correlated inversely with the number of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells after CRT. PD-L1(+) ratio in patrolling monocytes was an independent predictor for response to CRT.

CONCLUSION

Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on patrolling monocytes suppresses cell-mediated immunity in patients receiving CRT which could be related to tumour response, and may be a useful biomarker for decision-making in the management of patients with LARC.

Pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with magnetic resonance imaging predict responses to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

Aim

To investigate the value of pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Methods

This study involved patients with LARC who received NCRT and subsequently underwent total mesenteric excision from June 2015 to June 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Patients with incomplete courses of neoadjuvant therapy, comorbidities with other malignancies or diseases that affect the study outcome, and those who underwent unplanned surgery were ultimately excluded. Laboratory data such as albumin, CEA, various blood cell levels, and MRI related data such as tumor regression grade assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (mrTRG) were collected from the included patients one week prior to NCRT. MrTRG is a common clinical imaging metric used to assess the degree of tumor regression in rectal cancer, primarily based on morphological assessment of residual tumor. Furthermore, pretreatment blood biomarkers such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR), and prealbumin to fibrinogen ratio (PFR) were assessed. The independent variables for pathologic complete response (pCR) to NCRT were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the performance of MRI with or without pretreatment blood biomarkers in predicting pCR using DeLong’s method. A nomogram was created and confirmed internally.

Results

Fifty-nine individuals with LARC satisfied the inclusion criteria, among which 23 showed pCR after NCRT. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that pretreatment CEA (≤ 3 µg/L, OR = 0.151, P = 0.039), NLR (OR = 4.205, P = 0.027), LMR (OR = 0.447, P = 0.034), and PFR (OR = 0.940, P = 0.013) were independent predictors of pCR to NCRT. The AUCs of mrTRG alone and mrTRG plus the above four pretreatment blood biomarkers were 0.721 (P =0.0003) and 0.913 (P <0.0001), respectively. The constructed nomogram showed a C-index of 0.914.

Conclusion

Pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with MRI can help clinical efforts by better predicting the efficacy of NCRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Prognostic Significance of Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression

BACKGROUND

The low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio have been reported to be poor prognostic indicators in various solid tumors, but the prognostic significance in rectal cancer remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the prognostic value of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio following curative-intent surgery for rectal cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO, ID: CRD42020190880), PubMed and Embase databases were searched through January 2021 including 3 other registered medical databases.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies evaluating the impact of pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on overall or disease-free survival in patients undergoing curative rectal cancer resection were selected.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

The main outcome measures were overall and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

A total of 23 studies (6683 patients) were included; lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were evaluated in 14 and 16 studies. A low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio was associated with poorer overall survival (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.29-1.90; p < 0.001) and disease-free survival (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.13-1.46; p < 0.001). However, when the analysis was limited to patients treated with surgery alone or to those with stage I to III tumors, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio was not a predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival. The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio did not predict for overall or disease-free survival, regardless of the treatment modality, studied population, tumor stage, or cutoff value. Finally, a low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, but not a high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, was inversely correlated with complete pathologic response rate.

LIMITATIONS

The retrospective nature of most included studies was a limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, but not platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, correlates with tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and poorer prognosis after curative-intent surgery for rectal cancer, and it potentially represents a simple and reliable biomarker that could help optimize individualized clinical decision-making in high-risk patients.

REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/; ID: CRD42020190880.

Peripheral blood CD45RO+T cells is a predictor of the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

To investigate the relationship between the changes in circulating CD45RO+T lymphocyte subsets following neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.The clinicopathological data of 185 patients with rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy in the General Surgery Department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from June 2015 to June 2017 were analyzed. Venous blood samples were collected 1 week before neoadjuvant therapy and 1 week before surgery, and the expression of CD45RO+T was detected by flow cytometry. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of CD45RO+ratio. Log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze the overall survival rate (OS) and disease-free survival rate (DFS) associated with CD45RO+ratio.Circulating CD45RO+ratio of 1.07 was determined as the optimal cut-off point and CD45RO+ratio-high was associated with lower tumor regression grade grading (P = .031), T stage (P = .001), and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (P = .012). The 3-year DFS and OS rate in the CD45RO+ratio-high group was significantly higher than that in the CD45RO+ratio-low group (89.2% vs 60.1%, P<.001; 94.4% vs 73.2%, P<.001). The multivariate Cox analysis revealed that elevated CD45RO+ratio was an independent factor for better DFS (OR, 0.339; 95% CI, 0.153-0.752; P = .008) and OS (OR, 0.244; 95% CI,0.082-0.726; P = .011).Circulating CD45RO+ratio could predict the tumor regression grade of neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer, as well as long-term prognosis. These findings could be used to stratify patients and develop alternative strategies for adjuvant therapy.

Prognostic Impact of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio, in Patients with Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study of 1052 Patients

Despite the description of several new prognostic markers, colorectal cancer still represents the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death. As immunotherapy is considered a therapeutic alternative in such patients, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) are hypothesized to provide reliable prognostic information. A retrospective study was conducted on 1052 patients operated on during 2013-2019 in two clinical hospitals from Hungary and Romania. Inclusion criteria targeted patients over 18 years old, diagnosed with rectal cancer, with preoperatively defined NLR and LMR. The overall survival rate, along with clinical and histopathological data, was evaluated. Overall survival was significantly associated with increased NLR (p = 0.03) and decreased LMR (p = 0.04), with cut-off values of 3.11 and 3.39, respectively. The two parameters were inversely correlated (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant association between tumor stage and NLR or LMR (p = 0.30, p = 0.06, respectively). The total mesorectal excision was especially obtained in cases with low NLR (p = 0.0005) and high LMR (p = 0.0009) values. A significant association was also seen between preoperative chemoradiotherapy and high NLR (p = 0.0001) and low LMR (p = 0.0001). In patients with rectal cancer, the preoperative values of NLR and LMR can be used as independent prognostic parameters. An NLR value of ≥3.11 can be used to indicate the response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy, but a low chance of sphincter preservation or obtaining a complete TME. Higher values of NLR and lower values of LMR require a more attentive preoperative evaluation of the mesorectum.

Combining Radiomics and Blood Test Biomarkers to Predict the Response of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer to Chemoradiation

BACKGROUND/AIM

A noninvasive method for predicting a patient's response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer would be useful because this would help determine the subsequent treatment strategy. Two types of noninvasive biomarkers have previously been studied, based on radiomics and based on blood test parameters. We hypothesized that a combination of both types would provide a better predictive power, and this has not previously been investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 135 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent nCRT were retrospectively allocated into training and validation cohorts in a 2:1 ratio. Sixty-five radiomics features were extracted from tumors segmented on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. An elastic net was applied to generate four models for discerning the patients with good responses to nCRT based on radiomics features (model R), blood biomarkers (model B), both (model RB), and a linear combination of models R and B (model R+B).

RESULTS

Among 65 radiomics features, 17 were selected as robust features for model development. The AUC values of model R, model B, model RB, and model R+B achieved 0.751, 0.627, 0.785, and 0.711 in the training cohort (n=90), and 0.705, 0.603, 0.679, and 0.705 in validation cohort (n=45), respectively. In the entire cohort, models RB and R+B demonstrated a significantly better performance than model B but not R. There was no correlation between the scores of models R and B (p=0.76). Radiomics features had a greater influence than blood biomarkers on models RB and R+B.

CONCLUSION

A non-redundancy between radiomics features and blood-based biomarkers was observed. Furthermore, radiomics features are more valuable in terms of predicting response to nCRT. The importance of combining non-invasive biomarkers in future investigations is highlighted.

Systemic inflammation score in locally advanced rectal cancer patients following total mesorectal excision

Objective

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether any association exists between systemic inflammation score (SIS) and adverse events (AEs) and survival of locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with total mesorectal excision (TME) followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Patients and methods

All of the 109 rectal cancer patients recruited between May 2008 and June 2015 were treated with TME followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The prognostic ability of SIS for overall survival (OS) was calculated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

According to the classification of the SIS, 22 (20.2%), 59 (54.1%) and 28 (25.7%) patients were classified as a score of 2, 1 and 0, respectively. With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.616, the SIS score of 1 was defined as the optimal cut-off value. Therefore, we divided the patients into the SIS-low group (SIS score of 1 or 0, n=87) and SIS-high group (SIS score of 2, n=22). Multivariate analysis indicated that SIS was associated with OS (HR 0.390, 95% CI 0.186–0.817, P=0.012). The 5-year OS rate in patients without adjuvant chemotherapy was lower than the patients with adjuvant chemotherapy (53.3% vs 75.8%, P=0.010). Multivariate analysis showed that adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with OS (HR 0.217, 95% CI 0.089–0.529, P=0.001). A marginal statistically significant difference was observed in terms of leukopenia during adjuvant chemoradiotherapy between the SIS-low group and the SIS-high group (P=0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that SIS might serve as an independent biomarker for predicting AEs and prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer treated with TME followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Strengthening treatment may be administered to locally advanced rectal cancer with high SIS score obtained before adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

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Prognostic impact of persistent lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients: A propensity score matching analysis

Purpose

This study investigated the significance of change in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during preoperative chemoradiotherapy (preop-CRT) in patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer using a propensity score matching method (PSM).

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery after completion of preop-CRT for non-metastatic rectal cancers from Jan 2004 to Dec 2013 were retrospectively enrolled. NLRs were obtained before commencement of CRT (pre-NLR) and between completion of CRT and surgery (post-NLR). Using Cox regression hazards models, the association of NLRs with survival after PSM was examined.

Results

A total of 131 patients were grouped as follows: group A, pre-NLR < 3 & post-NLR < 3 (n = 47); group B, pre-NLR < 3 & post-NLR ≥ 3 (n = 45); group C, pre-NLR ≥ 3 & post-NLR < 3 (n = 5); group D, pre-NLR ≥ 3 & post-NLR ≥ 3 (n = 34). There was no difference in disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) rate according to group. When dichotomized into group A versus groups B-D, DFS was higher in group A (84.7%) than groups B-D (67.5%, p = 0.021). After PSM (n = 94), multivariable analysis identified persistent lower NLR as an independent favorable prognosticator of DFS (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.92, p = 0.033).

Conclusions

Persistent non-inflammatory state measured by NLR may be an indicator of decreased risk of recurrence in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preop-CRT.

Prognostic significance of combined preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in patients undergoing surgery with stage IB non-small-cell lung cancer

Background

Research indicates that the presence of a systemic inflammatory response plays an important role in predicting survival in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), prognostic nutritional index, and the combination of preoperative LMR and PLR (LMR-PLR) in predicting the survival of patients with stage IB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 577 patients with stage IB NSCLC who underwent pneumonectomy from January 1999 to December 2009. Univariate and multivariate Cox survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic indicators, including LMR-PLR. The cutoff values for LMR and PLR were defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. According to the ROC curve, the recommended cutoff values of LMR and PLR were 3.16 and 81.07, respectively. We divided the patients into three groups according to their LMR and PLR status and defined them with different scores. Patients with both high LMR (>3.16) and low PLR (≤81.07) were given a score of 2, whereas those with one or neither were scored 1 or 0, respectively. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to identify the factors associated with overall survival (OS).

Results

The median follow-up time was 93.77 months. The allocation of the LMR-PLR score was as follows: LMR-PLR = 0, 193 (33.4%) patients; LMR-PLR = 1, 308 (53.4%) patients; and LMR-PLR = 2, 76 (13.2%) patients. After multivariate analysis, our results showed that LMR-PLR was an independent prognostic indicator for OS (P=0.001). The 10-year OS rates were 70.0%, 60.4%, and 49.5% for LMR-PLR =2, LMR-PLR =1, and LMR-PLR =0, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that preoperative LMR and PLR are simple, readily available, and low-cost biomarkers. Preoperative LMR-PLR score can be used as a valuable prognostic marker for long-term survival in stage IB NSCLC patients who underwent surgery.

Predictive Value of Leukocyte- and Platelet-Derived Ratios in Rectal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Advances in treatment of rectal cancer have improved survival, but there is variability in response to therapy. Recent data suggest the utility of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting survival. Our aim was to examine these ratios in rectal cancer patients and determine whether any association exists with overall survival (OS).

METHODS

Using prospectively maintained institutional data, a query was completed for clinical stage II-III rectal adenocarcinoma patients treated from 2002 to 2016. We included patients who had a complete blood count collected before neoadjuvant chemoradiation (pre-CRT) and again before surgery (post-CRT). The LMR, NLR, and PLR were calculated for the pre-CRT and post-CRT time points. Potential cutpoints associated with OS differences were determined using maximally selected rank statistics. Survival curves were compared using log-rank tests and were adjusted for age and stage using Cox regression.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients were included. Cutpoints were significantly associated with OS for pre-CRT ratios but not for post-CRT ratios. Within the pretreatment group, a "low" (<2.86) LMR was associated with decreased OS (log-rank P = 0.004). In the same group, a "high" (>4.47) NLR and "high" PLR (>203.6) were associated with decreased OS (log-rank P < 0.001). With covariate adjustment for age, and separately for final pathologic stage, the associations between OS and LMR, NLR, and PLR each retained statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

If obtained before the start of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, LMR, NLR, and PLR values are accurate predictors of 5-y OS in patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

The peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a prognostic predictor for survival of EGFR-mutant nonsmall cell lung cancer patients treated with EGFR-TKIs

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the standard first-line treatment for EGFR-mutant nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, studies have reported that not all NSCLC patients harboring kinase domain mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) show significant clinical benefits from EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Therefore, it is necessary to establish feasible biomarkers to predict the prognosis of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs. This study aimed to determine biomarkers using inflammatory parameters from complete blood counts to predict the prognosis of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.We retrospectively investigated 127 stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients with activating EGFR mutations who were treated with EGFR-TKIs. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the optimal cut-off for the inflammatory markers as prognostic factors. Additionally, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.The receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) cut-off values were 3.37 and 2.90, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that a high LMR (>3.37) and low NLR (≤2.90) were significantly correlated with long-term PFS and OS (LMR, P = .007; NLR, P < .001). The multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that only low NLR was an independent prognostic factor for long-term PFS and OS (PFS, HR = 0.573, 95% CI: 0.340-0.964, P = .036; OS, HR = 0.491, 95% CI: 0.262-0.920, P = .026).The data show that a low NLR was a good prognostic factor in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment. Moreover, the NLR measurement has better prognostic value than LMR.