Could the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio be a poor prognostic factor for non small cell lung cancers?
BACKGROUND
Although many prognostic factors have been identified for lung cancers, new ones are needed to determine the course of the disease. Recently, a high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) prior to surgery or treatment has been shown to be an indicator of prognosis for cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of NLR as a prognostic factor and the correlation between NLR and other probable clinical prognostic factors in non small cell lung cancer patients prior to treatment.


METHODS
Data of patients who were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were recorded. NLR was calculated before the application of any treatment.


RESULTS
A total of 299 patients, 270 (90%) males and 29 (10%) females, were included in the study. Age (p<0.001) stage (p<0.001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p<0.001), weight loss (p<0.001), anemia (p<0.001), histopatology (p<0.001), NLR ≥ 3 (p=0.048), NLR ≥ 4 (p=0.025) and NLR ≥ 5 (p=0.018) were found to be the prognostic factors. Age, anemia, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, the stage, NLR (≥ 5) were an independent prognostic factors. There was a positive correlation between NLR and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0.23, p=0.001), the C reactive protein levels (r=0.36, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Prior to treatment high NLR was found as an independent poor prognosis factor. Besides, NLR correlated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and the C reactive protein levels.
Department of Medical Oncology, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey E-mail : kacanturgut@gmail.com.
Turgut
T
Kacan
Nalan Akgul
NA
Babacan
Metin
M
Seker
Birsen
B
Yucel
Aykut
A
Bahceci
Ayfer Ay
AA
Eren
Mehmet Fuat
MF
Eren
Saadettin
S
Kilickap
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002097:C-Reactive Protein