Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts recurrence in patients with resected stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim was to determine the prognostic value of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with completely resected stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The study enrolled 382 NSCLC patients, and an optimal NLR cutoff value was determined by ROC analysis. Patients were divided by preoperative NLR into low ( 300 U.CARR, n = 16) was 1.72 ± 0.67, which was significantly higher than that in patients with low d-ROMs (1.41 ± 0.39, n = 17; P = 0.018). The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates in the three NLR groups were 92, 77, and 59% (low); 82, 70, and 50% (intermediate); and 76, 58, and 32% (high) (P = 0.034). The 1-, 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates in the three groups were 98, 90, and 86% (low), 91, 77, and 74% (intermediate); and 92, 77, and 68% (high) (P = 0.033). Multivariate analysis found that although NLR was not predictive of overall survival, high NLR was an independent risk factor of recurrence (hazard ratio: 2.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.17–3.79, P = 0.011) as were as age, pathological stage, tumor differentiation, and lymph-vascular invasion. Conclusions A low preoperative NLR predicted good prognosis, and was associated with low systemic inflammation status in patients with stage 1 NSCLC. It may be helpful when considering intervals of routine follow-up or choice of adjuvant therapy.

Keywords

• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Prognosis
• Recurrence-free survival
• Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
• Surgery