Predictive Role of Delta Neutrophil Index in Endometrial Cancer: A Promising Biomarker for Diagnosis

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore the potential of delta neutrophil index (DNI) as a predictive biomarker for the development of endometrial cancer (EC) in women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 139 women diagnosed with EIN who underwent surgery between 2019 and 2022. Demographic data, medical history, and laboratory parameters, including DNI, were collected from the patients' medical records. Patients with other types of cancer, a history of steroid use, inflammatory, hematologic, or autoimmune diseases, or missing data were excluded. The patients' pathology reports were reviewed, and patients were divided into three groups by the final pathological diagnosis, benign (n=64), EIN (n=66), and EC (n=39). Results: The mean DNI level of the EC group was found to be significantly higher than the EIN and benign groups (4.85±2.31, 2.31±0.89, 1.48±1.03, p<0.001, respectively). The optimal cut-off value of DNI was determined as 2.75% with 82.1% sensitivity and 73.8% specificity. DNI levels >2.75% were found to be associated with an 11.56-fold (95% CI: 4-59-29.09, p<0.001) increased risk of EC. Smoking and postmenopausal status were also identified as independent risk factors for EC. Patients with smoking had a 4.13-fold (95% CI: 1.54-11.01, p=0.005), and postmenopausal status had a 2.8-fold (95% CI: 1.87-9.04, p=0.034) increased risk of EC. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that DNI may be a useful biomarker for predicting the risk of EC. The results also confirm that smoking and postmenopausal status are independent risk factors for EC.

Keywords

• biomarker
• endometrial cancer
• endometrial hyperplasia
• biyobelirteç
• endometriyal kanser
• endometriyal hiperplazi