title: Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced oesophageal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed a retrospective analysis of Asian patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer to test the hypothesis that an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with a poor survival rate after definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 138 patients diagnosed with locally advanced oesophageal cancer (TNM classification of malignant tumours stage II or III) who were treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy between January 2005 and December 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy was performed using two different chemotherapy regimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up duration was 39.5 months (range 1.1-93.4). The median progression-free survival was 14.0 months, and the median overall survival was 19.9 months. Compared with the low (<2.0) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio group (n=43, 31.2%), the high (≥2.0) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio group (n=95, 68.8%) exhibited significant decreases in the durations of both progression-free survival and overall survival. Using multivariate analysis, an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was also significantly associated with decreased progression-free survival (HR 1.799; 95% CI, 1.050-3.083; P=0.032) and overall survival duration (HR 2.115; 95% CI, 1.193-3.749; P=0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a useful prognostic marker in patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Eun Jin
authors: EJ
authors: Yoo
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: junchul75@yuhs.ac.
authors: Jun Chul
authors: JC
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Eun Hye
authors: EH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Chan Hyuk
authors: CH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Choong Nam
authors: CN
authors: Shim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Hyun Jik
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Hyun Soo
authors: HS
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Hyuk
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Sung Kwan
authors: SK
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Sang Kil
authors: SK
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Chang Geol
authors: CG
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yong Chan
authors: YC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Oesophageal cancer; Prognosis