The baseline ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is associated with patient prognosis in rectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
In cancer patients, the balance between neutrophil (N) and lymphocyte (L) cell counts fluctuates with advancing disease. The objective of our study was to determine the prognostic implications of the N/L ratio in the peripheral blood of rectal cancer patients.


METHODS
Study participants were identified from a prospective cohort of patients with rectal cancer in Dalian of China (n = 123).


RESULTS
The median baseline N/L ratio was 2.41 +/- 2.206 (range, 0.76-20.45). Our results revealed that the N/L ratio was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.003) and level of cancer antigen 125 (P = 0.027). A multivariate Cox model established a significant relationship between the N/L ratio and survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.615; 95% confidence interval, 1.152-5.933; P = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the N/L ratio is an independent prognostic factor in rectal cancer, and the N/L ratio may serve as a clinically accessible and useful biomarker for patient survival.
Liu
Huanran
H
Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China. lhrlhr9050@yahoo.com
Liu
Ge
G
Bao
Quan
Q
Sun
Wei
W
Bao
Haidong
H
Bi
Liang
L
Wen
Wei
W
Liu
Yanfeng
Y
Wang
Zhenglin
Z
Yin
Xunguo
X
Bai
Yunqing
Y
Hu
Xiang
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology