Prognostic performance of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: an updated meta-analysis of eleven reports.
OBJECTIVE
The findings on the prognostic value of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted to more precisely evaluate the prognostic significance of LMR in DLBCL.


METHODS
This analysis combined eleven studies with 4,578 patients aiming to assess the association of LMR with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in DLBCL. Data from studies directly reporting a hazard ratio (HR) with 95% corresponding confidence interval (CI) in multivariate analysis were pooled to estimate the effect.


RESULTS
Our results suggested that patients with decreased LMR had shorter OS (HR =1.79, 95% CI =1.54-2.08, P<0.001) and PFS (HR =2.21, 95% CI =1.80-2.72, P<0.001) in DLBCL. Stratified analyses indicated that each confounder showed consistent prognostic value in DLBCL. There was no significant heterogeneity for PFS (P H=0.192) and OS (P H=0.212) among the enrolled studies.


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that decreased LMR might be a marker in the prediction of poor prognosis for patients with DLBCL.
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Hui-Ling
HL
Sun
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Yu-Qin
YQ
Pan
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Bang-Shun
BS
He
Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Zhen-Lin
ZL
Nie
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Kang
K
Lin
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Hong-Xin
HX
Peng
Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
William C
WC
Cho
Central Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Shu-Kui
SK
Wang
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio; meta-analysis; prognosis