title: Comparison of two inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the usefulness of two inflammation-based prognostic scores, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), assessed at diagnosis in stage IV advanced gastric cancer (AGC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 104 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic AGC treated with palliative chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the univariate analysis, the following variables were associated with shorter overall survival (OS): poor or undifferentiated histology (p = 0.013), more than 1 metastasis (p = 0.004), the presence of lymph node metastasis (p = 0.003), the presence of bone metastasis (p = 0.019), a lower albumin level (p < 0.001), elevated C-reactive protein (p < 0.001), a high absolute neutrophil count (p = 0.016), NLR ≥3 (p < 0.001) and higher mGPS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, high NLR and mGPS were independent prognostic factors for shorter OS (p = 0.037, p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively), along with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.005) and histological subtype (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the inflammatory markers, NLR and mGPS, are independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with unresectable AGC treated with palliative chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sun Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Gwang Won
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Jae Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jae Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yu Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein