Evaluation of the prognostic value of systemic inflammation and socioeconomic deprivation in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases

The prognostic utility of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is used to reflect body's inflammatory status with prognostic value in different cancers. We aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative NLR in the prognosis of CRLM patients receiving surgery using meta-analysis. Data in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases created before October 2022 were recruited. Meta-analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 and Stata16 software, and the primary outcome indicators included overall survival (OS), and secondary outcome indicators included disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The pooled risk ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each outcome indicator were determined using random-effects models or fixed-effects models. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for NLR and clinicopathological characteristics were determined with a fixed-effects model. 18 papers published between 2008 and 2022 (3184 patients in total) were included. The pooled analysis found that high preoperative NLR was correlated with poor OS (multivariate HR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.61-2.08, p < 0.01), DFS (multivariate HR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.16-2.71, p < 0.01) and RFS (multivariate HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.15-1.85, p < 0.01), but NLR was not related to clinicopathological features of CRLM patients correlation. In conclusion, NLR is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with CRLM. More large-scale clinical researches are required in the future to demonstrate the inclusion of preoperative NLR as a prognostic indicator for CRLM patients to guide postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of severe postoperative edema and ecchymosis in open rhinoplasty surgery

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and severe postoperative edema and ecchymosis after open rhinoplasty. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out retrospectively in 165 ASA I-II patients aged 18-45 years who underwent open rhinoplasty in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The patients were grouped based on their scores on the edema and ecchymosis scales. The degree of edema and ecchymosis was considered “minimal” (Group M) in those scoring 0-2 points and “severe” (Group S) in those scoring 3-4 points. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis of the patients in both groups were scored based on the digital photographs taken on the 1st postoperative day. Results: There was no significant difference in the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients grouped according to the degree of edema and ecchymosis. The optimal cut-off value of NLR was 2.1 (AUC = 0.747, Sensitivity = 0.666, Specificity = 0.707) for edema and 1.5 (AUC = 0.747, Sensitivity = 0.869, Specificity = 0.470) for ecchymosis. Multivariable analyzes for the development of edema and ecchymosis identified NLR (4.67 [2.38-9.40] and 6.54 [3.02-15.08, respectively) as a statistically significant independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: This study identified preoperative NLR as a predictor value of severe postoperative edema and ecchymosis after open rhinoplasty.

High Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) Are Markers of Longer Survival After Metastasectomy of Patients With Liver-Only Metastasis of Rectal Cancer

Background: The literature data regarding colon cancer patients with liver-only metastases (CLM) show that NLR determined before metastasectomy is a prognostic marker of shorter relapse-free survival (RFS), but no results has been reported to date for rectal cancer patients with liver-only metastases (RLM). This study aimed to investigate the NLR and SII in CLM and RLM.

Methods: Relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in 67 CLM and 103 RLM patients with a median follow-up of 46.5 and 59.8 months, respectively. Pre- and/or postoperative chemotherapy ± targeted treatment was applied in 96% and 87% of CLM and RLM patients, respectively. The cut-off level for hematologic parameters were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Univariate analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. For multivariate analysis Cox regression was applied.

Results: In univariate analysis low NLR (cut-off 2) and SII (535) were predictors of longer RFS in case of CLM (p < 0.01). In contrast, for RLM high NLR (2.42) and SII (792) were predictors of longer RFS (p < 0.001). For RLM both NLR and SII proved to be independent markers of RFS (HR 0.66 (95% CI 0.52–0.84) and 0.73 (0.57–0.91), respectively) and OS (0.76 (0.58–0.99) and 0.66 (0.5–0.87), respectively). Only NLR (1.44 (1.04–1.99)) was independent marker of RFS for CLM. The preoperative treatment has not influenced the role of NLR or SII.

Conclusion: In contrast to CLM, in RLM the high NLR or SII determined before metastasectomy proved to be independent prognostic factors of longer RFS and OS.

A multicentre cohort study assessing the utility of routine blood tests as adjuncts to identify complete responders in rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

Management of rectal cancer with a complete clinical response (cCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is controversial. Some advocate "watch and wait" programmes and organ-preserving surgery. Central to these strategies is the ability to accurately preoperatively distinguish cCR from residual disease (RD). We sought to identify if post-NACRT (preoperative) inflammatory markers act as an adjunct to MRI and endoscopy findings for distinguishing cCR from RD in rectal cancer.

METHODS

Patients from three specialist rectal cancer centres were screened for inclusion (2010-2015). For inclusion, patients were required to have completed NACRT, had a post-NACRT MRI (to assess mrTRG) and proceeded to total mesorectal excision (TME). Endoluminal response was assessed on endoscopy at 6-8 weeks post-NACRT. Pathological response to therapy was calculated using a three-point tumour regression grade system (TRG1-3). Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serum albumin (SAL), CEA and CA19-9 levels post-NACRT (preoperatively) were recorded. Variables were compared between those who had RD on post-operative pathology and those with ypCR. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 21).

RESULTS

Six hundred forty-six patients were screened, of which 422 were suitable for inclusion. A cCR rate of 25.5% (n = 123) was observed. Sixty patients who achieved cCR were excluded from final analysis as they underwent organ-preserving surgery (local excision) leaving 63 ypCR patients compared to 359 with RD. On multivariate analysis, combining cCR on MRI and endoscopy with NLR < 5 demonstrated the greatest odds of ypCR on final histological assessment [OR 6.503 (1.594-11.652]) p < 0.001]. This method had the best diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.962 95% CI 0.936-0.987), compared to MRI (AUC = 0.711 95% CI 0.650-0.773) or endoscopy (AUC = 0.857 95% CI 0.811-0.902) alone or used together (AUC = 0.926 95% CI 0.892-0.961).

CONCLUSION

Combining post-NACRT inflammatory markers with restaging MRI and endoscopy findings adds another avenue to aid distinguishing RD from cCR in rectal cancer.

Prognostic Value of Inflammation-based Prognostic Scores in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background Anatomopathological staging is the primary method to determine the prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, new tools have been developed that can complement it, such as the analysis of the elevation of systemic inflammatory markers.

Objective To evaluate the impact of the elevation of scores based on inflammatory markers (the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], the Glasgow Prognostic Score [GPS], and isolated C-reactive protein [CRP]) in the prognosis of patients diagnosed with CRC and submitted to potentially curative surgery in Hospital de Braga, Portugal, between January 1st, 2005, and December 31st, 2010.

Methods A retrospective analysis of the data of 426 patients was performed, with a collection of several clinico-pathological variables, as well as the levels of lymphocytes, neutrophils, albumin and CRP, in the pre- and postoperative periods, to apply the different scores to the sample.

Results From the analysis of the survival curves, we concluded that patients with increased NLR in the pre- and postoperative periods present a lower cancer-related survival than patients with normal NLR (preoperative period: 93.7 versus 122 months; p < 0.001; postoperative period: 112 versus 131 months; p = 0.002). Patients with increased NLR in the pre- and postoperative periods also had a lower disease-free survival (preoperative period: 88.0 versus 122 months; p < 0.001; postoperative period: 111 versus 132 months; p = 0.002). In addition, increased pre- and postoperative NLR was associated with a higher risk of death due to CRC (preoperatively: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.25; p < 0.001; postoperatively: HR = 2.18; p = 0.003). However, the multivariate analysis shows that only postoperative NLR (ajusted HR = 2.66; p = 0.002) does so independently of the remaining variables.

Conclusion Regarding the scores applied to the sample, the NLR was the one that most consistently related to the prognosis of the patients. However, it would be useful to develop a prospective study that could confirm this relationship.

The prognostic utility of pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR) in colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Inflammation is a hallmark of cancer, and systemic markers of inflammation are increasingly recognised as negative prognostic factors for clinical outcome. Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is readily available from routine blood testing of patients diagnosed with cancer.

Methods

Peer‐reviewed publications from PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE were identified according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS) and surrogate endpoints (SE; comprising disease‐, recurrence‐ and progression‐free survival) were pooled using a random effects model. Additional analysis was carried out to further investigate NLR as an independent prognostic factor and account for heterogeneity.

Results

Seventy‐one eligible papers comprising 32,788 patients were identified. High NLR was associated with poor clinical outcomes. Significant publication bias was observed, and larger studies also adjusted for more covariates. Correcting for publication bias in multivariate studies brought our best estimate for true effect size to HR = 1.57 (95% CI 1.39–1.78; p < 0.0001) for OS and to HR = 1.38 (95% CI 1.16–1.64; p = 0.0003) for SE.

Conclusions

NLR is confirmed as an easily available prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer, despite the limitations of some studies previously reporting this finding. As such, it should be routinely collected in prospective clinical trials. While more standardised and rigorous large‐scale studies are needed before high NLR can be fully assessed as an independent predictor of CRC progression and outcome, the data suggest that it may be used to highlight individuals with tumour‐promoting inflammatory context.

Retrospective cohort study of statin therapy effect on resected colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Above and beyond their role in cardiovascular risk reduction, statins appear to have a chemopreventive role in some gastro-intestinal cancers. In the quest for new chemopreventive agents, some existing established drugs such as statins have shown potential for re-purposing as chemoprevention. Probing existing drugs, whose pharmacodynamics are familiar, for novel beneficial effects offers a more cost-effective and less time-consuming strategy than establishing brand new drugs whose pharmacodynamic profile is unfamiliar. Observational studies show statins decrease the risk of developing colorectal cancer but there are no published studies exploring the potential impact of statins on carcinogenesis in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

AIM

To evaluate impact of statins on outcomes of CRLM resection, and secondarily to assess if statins influence CRLM histo-pathology.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients operated for CRLM over a 13-year period from 2005 to 2017. Patients were identified from a prospective database maintained in our Tertiary care hospital. All 586 patients included the study had undergone resection of CRLM following discussion at multidisclipinary team meeting, some patients requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy to downstage CRLM prior to surgery. We analysed patient demographics, operative details, CRLM histopathology, Index of Deprivation, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and chemotherapy use in relation to clinical outcome. Statistics were performed using SPSS version 16.0; significance taken at 5%.

RESULTS

Liver resection for CRLM was undertaken in 586 patients at a median age of 68 (range 19 to 88) years. Statin therapy was used by 181 patients. Median follow-up time was 23 (range 12-96) mo and further colorectal cancer metastases developed in 267 patients. A total of 131 patients died. Multi-variate analysis identified 6 independent predictors of poorer disease-free survival: Synchronous presentation, multiple tumours, tumour size ≥ 5 cm, moderate–severe steatosis, peri-neural invasion, and R1-resection margin. Poorer overall survival was significantly associated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, major hepatectomy, peri-neural invasion and R1-resection margin. Neither histo-pathological nor radiological traits of CRLM were affected by statins, and, there was no demonstrable effect of statin therapy on patient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Statin therapy does not affect patient survival following liver resection for CRLM. We postulate the reason for this key finding is that statins do not modulate tumour biology of CRLM.

Effects of anesthetic technique and surgery on myeloid-derived suppressor cells and prognosis in women who underwent breast cancer surgery: a prospective study

Background: Surgery and anesthesia-induced immunosuppression may play a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are highly immunosuppressive myeloid cells, closely linked with tumor staging, clinical therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. This study aims to investigate the effect of anesthetic technique and surgery on the expression of MDSCs and prognosis in women who received breast cancer surgery. Methods: From March 2016 to January 2017, a total of 80 patients with breast cancer were prospectively enrolled and randomized into two anesthetic groups: sevoflurane-based anesthetic group (SEV; n=38) and propofol-based total intravenous anesthetic group (TIVA; n=42). The expression of MDSCs and prognosis between different anesthetic techniques and stresses of surgical methods were compared. The primary endpoint is the postoperative expression of MDSCs and prognosis between SEV and TIVA groups. The secondary endpoint is the VAS scores at 24 hr post-operation between SEV and TIVA groups. Results: There was no significant difference in postoperative expression of MDSCs (P=0.202) and prognosis (P=0.138) between SEV and TIVA groups. Compared to breast-conserving surgery (BCS), patients who underwent breast mastectomy had significantly fewer MDSCs (P=0.040) and lower VAS score at 24 hr post-operation (P=0.044), while no significant difference in prognosis was found (P=0.953). When MDSCs were classified as subtypes of granulocytic/polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs and monocytic (Mo)-MDSCs, it showed higher ratio of Mo-MDSCs (P=0.018) or lower ratio of (PMN)-MDSCs (P=0.022) correlates to later tumor stage. Conclusion: Sevoflurane and propofol-based anesthesia do not show significant difference in MDSCs expression and prognosis after breast cancer surgery. Compared to BCS, although mastectomy with high extent of surgical stress exhibits lower levels of MDSCs, there is no significant difference in prognosis. The ratio of MDSCs subtype correlates to tumor stage.

Prognostic value of thrombocytosis in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of thrombocytosis in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with synchronous CRLM at the Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Verona Hospital Trust between 2005 and 2016.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-six patients met the inclusion criteria. High platelet count (H-PC) was found in 32%, and it was associated with a higher rate of palliative surgery (p < 0.001), extra-hepatic metastases (p < 0.001), bilobar liver disease (p = 0.007), presence of more than three metastases (p = 0.005), biggest metastasis larger than 5 cm (p < 0.001), and CEA level higher than 200 ng/mL (p = 0.035). H-PC was significantly associated with poorer 5-year overall survival (14.3% vs. 34.3%; p = 0.001). At the multivariate analysis on R0-1 cases, platelet count resulted the only independent predictor of survival (HR 2.07, p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

H-PC correlates with the main negative clinical-pathological factors in patients with synchronous CRLM, as well as with overall survival. Moreover, it was the only independent prognostic factor in those who underwent curative surgery.

Poor prognostic role of the pretreatment platelet counts in colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, a wide variety of studies have suggested that elevated platelet counts are associated with survival in patients with colorectal cancer. On one hand several studies suggest a negative connection in colorectal cancer patients with pre-operative thrombocytosis, on the other hand other studies contradicts this. However, it remains unknown whether elevated platelet counts are associated with survival in colorectal cancer patients. We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic role of platelet counts in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inception to October 15, 2016 to identify relevant studies that have explored the prognostic role of platelet counts in colorectal cancer. Studies that examined the association between platelet counts and prognoses in colorectal cancer and that provided a hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS) and/or disease-free survival (DFS) were included.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 9 retrospective cohort studies involving 3413 patients with colorectal cancer. OS was shorter in patients with elevated platelet counts than in patients with normal counts (HR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.68-2.65). For DFS, an elevated platelet count was also a poor predictor (HR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.84-3.43).

CONCLUSION

In this meta-analysis, we suggest that an elevated platelet count is a negative predictor of survival in both primary colorectal cancer and resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in biliary tract cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Inflammation was considered to perform crucial roles in the development and metastasis of malignancies. A heightened neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio has been described to be associated with detrimental survivals in different malignancies. Debate remains over the impact of heightened neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on survivals in biliary tract cancer. The review evaluated the prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in biliary tract cancer.

Methods

MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and the Chinese SinoMed were systematically searched for relevant articles. Associations between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and long-term outcomes were expressed as the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The odds ratio was utilized to assess the association between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and clinicopathological parameters.

Results

Fourteen studies consisting of 3217 patients were analyzed: 1278 (39.73%) in the high pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio group and 1939 (60.27%) in the low pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio one. The results proved that heightened pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was significantly associated with detrimental overall survival and relapse free survival for biliary tract cancer patients. In addition, elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was positively correlated with higher carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels, advanced TNM staging and greater lymph node involvement.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis marked that an increased pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was significantly linked with detrimental long-term outcomes and clinicopathological parameters for patients with biliary tract cancer.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic indicator in gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

An accurate, time efficient, and inexpensive prognostic indicator is needed to reduce cost and assist with clinical decision making for cancer management. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is derived from common serum testing, has been explored in a variety of cancers. We sought to determine its prognostic value in gastrointestinal cancers and performed a meta-analysis of published studies using the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Included were randomized control trials and observational studies that analyzed humans with gastrointestinal cancers that included NLR and hazard ratios (HR) with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and/or cancer-specific survival (CSS).

We analyzed 144 studies comprising 45,905 patients, two-thirds of which were published after 2014. The mean, median, and mode cutoffs for NLR reporting OS from multivariate models were 3.4, 3.0, 5.0 (±IQR 2.5-5.0), respectively. Overall, NLR greater than the cutoff was associated with a HR for OS of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.53-1.73; P < 0.001). This association was observed in all subgroups based on tumor site, stage, and geographic region. HR for elevated NLR for DFS, PFS, and CSS were 1.70 (95% CI, 1.52-1.91, P < 0.001), 1.64 (95% CI, 1.36-1.97, P < 0.001), and 1.83 (95% CI, 1.50-2.23, P < 0.001), respectively.

Available evidence suggests that NLR greater than the cutoff reduces OS, independent of geographic location, gastrointestinal cancer type, or stage of cancer. Furthermore, DFS, PFS, and CSS also have worse outcomes with elevated NLR.

The elevated NLR, PLR and PLT may predict the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recently, several studies have reported that inflammatory response and elevated platelet counts may be associated with the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. This meta-analysis was designed to analyze and evaluate the prognostic role of elevated preoperative or pretreatment neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio or platelet counts in patients with colorectal cancer. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to April, 2016. A total of 23 studies (N = 11762 participants) were included for this meta-analysis. Elevated neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio have a close relationship with the poor Overall Survival of colorectal cancer with the pooled HR being 1.92 [95% CI 1.57–2.34; P < 0.00001]. This meta-analysis indicated that elevated neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio or platelet counts may be a cost-effective and noninvasive serum biomarker for poor prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.

Prognosis of locally advanced rectal cancer can be predicted more accurately using pre- and post-chemoradiotherapy neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios in patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy

Purpose

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been suggested as an inflammation-related factor, but also as an indicator of systemic anti-tumor immunity. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the NLR and to propose a proper cut-off value in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) followed by curative total mesorectal excision (TME).

Methods

A total of 110 rectal cancer patients with clinical T3-4 or node-positive disease were retrospectively analyzed. The NLR value before preoperative CRT (pre-CRT NLR) and the NLR value between preoperative CRT and surgery (post-CRT NLR) were obtained. Using a maximally selected log-rank test, cut-off values were determined as 1.75 for the pre-CRT NLR and 5.14 for the post-CRT NLR.

Results

Patients were grouped as follows: group A, pre-CRT NLR ≤ 1.75 and post-CRT NLR ≤ 5.14 (n = 29); group B, pre-CRT NLR > 1.75 and post-CRT NLR ≤ 5.14, or pre-CRT NLR ≤ 1.75 and post-CRT NLR > 5.14 (n = 61); group C, pre-CRT NLR > 1.75 and post-CRT NLR > 5.14 (n = 20). The median follow-up time was 31.1 months. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates showed significant differences between the NLR groups (3-year DFS rate: 92.7% vs. 73.0% vs. 47.3%, for group A, B, and C, respectively, p = 0.018; 3-year OS rate: 96.0% vs. 85.5% vs. 59.8%, p = 0.034). Multivariate analysis revealed that the NLR was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (p = 0.028).

Conclusion

Both the pre-CRT NLR and the post-CRT NLR have a predictive value for the prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative CRT followed by curative TME and adjuvant chemotherapy. A persistently elevated post-CRT NLR may be an indicator of an increased risk of distant metastasis.

The pretreatment thrombocytosis may predict prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Recently, several studies have reported that thrombocytosis may be associated with the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, their conclusions were still controversial. Results & methodology: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science up to April 2016. A total of 30 studies including 9129 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Thrombocytosis had a close relationship with the poor overall survival of CRC compared with normal platelet counts, with the pooled hazard ratios being 1.89 (95% CI: 1.45-2.47; p < 0.00001) and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.33-2.53; p = 0.0002), with univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively.

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicated that thrombocytosis may be a cost-effective and noninvasive indicator for poor prognosis of patients with CRC, especially for overall survival.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Derived Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (d-NLR) Predict Non-Responders and Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery After Neo-Adjuvant Radio-Chemotherapy for Rectal Adenocarcinoma

In order to evaluate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR) in predicting response and complications in rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery after neo-adjuvant radio-chemotherapy, 87 patients were evaluated. Cutoffs before and after radio-chemotherapy were respectively 2.8 and 3.8 for NLR, and 1.4 and 2.3 for d-NLR. They were analyzed in relation to clinical and pathological outcomes. Patients with preoperative NLR and d-NLR higher than cutoffs had significantly higher rates of tumor regression grade response (TRG ≥ 4) and postoperative complications. Elevated NLR and d-NLR after radio-chemotherapy are associated with worse pathological and clinical outcome.

Neutrophil and lymphocyte counts at diagnosis are associated with overall survival of pancreatic cancer: A retrospective cohort study

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been found to be significantly associated with pancreatic cancer (PC) survival. However, no existing studies discussed the association between neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and PC survival jointly. In this study, we aimed to analyze the influence of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts measured at disease diagnosis on the overall survival (OS) of PC. A total of 288 PC patients diagnosed between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, were retrospectively selected from a population-based electronic inpatients database. Multivariate Cox model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to estimate the associations between neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and OS of PC. We found that a decreased lymphocyte count at diagnosis was significantly associated with OS of PC: for PC patients whose lymphocyte counts were less than 1.5 × 10/L, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.82 (95% confidence interval: 1.37-2.40). Although abnormally increased baseline neutrophil count in general was not associated with OS of PC, RCS found a prominently deteriorated survival for PC patients whose baseline neutrophil counts were close to the cutoff point (7.0 × 10/L). Our study results indicate that neutrophil and lymphocyte counts at diagnosis may have prognostic relevance in PC survival, especially lymphocyte count. The clinical significance of neutrophil inhibition and lymphocyte promotion treatments in PC patients should be further discussed.

Randomized study of the clinical effects of ω-3 fatty acid-containing enteral nutrition support during neoadjuvant chemotherapy on chemotherapy-related toxicity in patients with esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVES

Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids have potential positive effects during chemotherapy, such as body weight maintenance and muscle mass preservation. However, little is known about the effect this supplement might have on reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicities. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of ω-3 fatty acid supplementation in the reduction of chemotherapy-related toxicities.

METHODS

Sixty-one patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer randomly received ω-3-rich enteral nutrition (EN; n = 31) or ω-3-poor EN support (n = 30) for 15 d during chemotherapy. The daily dosage of ω-3 fatty acids was 900 mg in the ω-3-rich group and 250 mg in the ω-3-poor group. The primary endpoint was the frequency of grade 3/4 neutropenia, and secondary endpoints included other chemotherapy-related adverse events, body weight, and inflammatory markers.

RESULTS

The total and dietary intake calories during chemotherapy were equal in both groups. There was no significant difference in the body weight change after chemotherapy between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 leukopenia and neutropenia (P > 0.05). However, stomatitis was significantly less frequent in the ω-3-rich group, than in the ω-3-poor group (P = 0.018). Grade 3/4 diarrhea occurred relatively less frequently in the ω-3-rich group than in the ω-3-poor group; however, this difference was not significant (16.1% versus 36.7%, respectively, P = 0.068). Increases in the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were seen significantly less frequently in the ω-3-rich group than in the ω-3-poor group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.015, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ω-3-rich EN support decreased the frequency of chemotherapy-induced mucosal toxicities, such as stomatitis and diarrhea, and exhibited a hepatoprotective effect during chemotherapy, compared with the ω-3-poor EN support.

Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Colorectal Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objective

Inflammation is deemed to play critical roles in tumor progression and metastasis, and an increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to correlate with poor survivals in various malignancies. However, association between NLR elevation and survival outcome in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of elevated NLR in CRLM.

Methods

The meta-analysis was conducted in adherence to the MOOSE guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and the Chinese SinoMed were systematically searched to identify eligible studies from the initiation of the databases to May, 2016. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) were pooled by using hazard ratio (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Correlation between NLR values and clinicopathological features was synthesized by using odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% CI.

Results

A total of 1685 patients from 8 studies (9 cohorts) were analyzed, consisting 347 (20.59%) in high pretreatment NLR value group and 1338 (79.41%) in low pretreatment NLR value one. The results demonstrated that elevated pretreatment NLR was significantly related to poor OS (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.82–2.58) and RFS (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.64–2.35) in patients with CRLM.

Conclusion

The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that an elevated pretreatment NLR was closely correlated with poor long-term survival (OS and RFS) in CRLM patients. NLR can be routinely monitored and serve as a useful and cost-effective marker with strong prognostic significance in patients with CRLM.

Changes in neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios after chemotherapy correlate with chemotherapy response and prediction of prognosis in patients with unresectable gastric cancer

The aim of the study was to investigate the application value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the prediction of chemotherapy response and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer. In total, 120 patients with unresectable gastric cancer were included and separated into two groups according to the median values of NLR or PLR (NLR low: <4.62 or NLR high: ≥4.62 and PLR low: <235 or PLR high: ≥235, respectively). Low baseline NLR level correlated with improved clinicopathological characteristics, including smaller tumor size, well differentiation and less metastasis. Low baseline PLR level also associated with less metastasis. Patients with a low baseline level of NLR or PLR had an improved response to chemotherapy. Patients with a higher baseline NLR and PLR had decreased progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) ratios. Alterations in the NLR and PLR levels were associated with therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. The patients who remained in or switched to the low NLR level subgroup subsequent to first-line chemotherapy had an improved response and improved OS ratios, compared to the patients remaining in or switching to the high NLR level group. Similar results were observed when the PLR level was investigated. In conclusion, baseline NLR and PLR measurements, as well as changes of NLR and PLR following chemotherapy can predict the prognostic results in patients with unresectable gastric cancer.

Association Between the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiovascular Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study

A high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) was associated with the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with severe sepsis. We sought to investigate the association between the perioperative N/L ratios and postoperative AKI in patients undergoing high-risk cardiovascular surgery.A retrospective medical chart review was performed of 590 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgeries, including coronary artery bypass, valve replacement, patch closure for atrial or ventricular septal defect and surgery on the thoracic aorta with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Baseline perioperative clinical parameters, including N/L ratios measured before surgery, immediately after surgery, and on postoperative day (POD) one were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors.A total of 166 patients (28.1%) developed AKI defined by the KDIGO (kidney disease improving global outcomes) criteria in the first 7 PODs. Independent risk factors for AKI included old age, decreased left ventricular systolic function, preoperative high serum creatinine, low serum albumin and high uric acid levels, intraoperative large transfusion amount, oliguria, hyperglycemia, and elevated N/L ratio measured immediately after surgery and on POD one. The quartiles of immediately postoperative N/L ratio were associated with graded increase in risk of AKI development (fourth quartile [N/L ratio≥10] multivariate odds ratio 5.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.74-12.73; P < 0.001), a longer hospital stay, and a higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality rate (fourth quartile [N/L ratio≥10] adjusted hazard ratio for 1-year mortality [8.40, 95% CI 2.50-28.17]; P < 0.001).In patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with CPB, elevated N/L ratios in the immediately postoperative period and on POD one were associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI and 1-year mortality. The N/L ratio, which is easily calculable from routine work-up, can therefore assist with risk stratification of AKI and mortality in high-risk surgical patients.

Use of serum albumin and activities of daily living to predict mortality in long-lived individuals over 95 years of age: a population-based study

Both activities of daily living (ADL) and some blood biomarkers (such as albumin) have been associated with mortality in very elderly people, but scarce data is available on the predictive performance of them in isolation or in combination, which is important for clinicians in decision making. Here, based on prospective mortality data over a 6-year follow-up period from 433 long-lived individuals (LLIs) aged 95+ years in the Rugao longevity cohort, we aimed to evaluate Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) and discriminative power (ROC curve) of 14 biomarkers and ADL for all-cause mortality. We found that six biomarkers (total triglyceride, albumin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, platelet count, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil count) were associated with mortality with a p < .10 in the univariate model. Significant associations of albumin and neutrophil count with mortality were observed when they were simultaneously included in a multivariate model, with HRs of 0.97 (95 % CI 0.94, 0.99; p = .005) and 1.09 (95 % CI 1.00, 1.18; p = .043). With respect to ADL, the corresponding HR was 1.10 (95 % CI 1.07, 1.14; p < .001). Low albumin (<40 g/L) combined with ADL dependent had a significantly increased mortality risk (HR = 2.19; 95 % CI 1.63, 2.95). Albumin and ADL separately showed good discriminative accuracies (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.68 and 0.66, respectively), and their combination had an increased predictive utility (AUC = 0.73). In conclusion, both albumin and ADL are efficient predictors of all-cause mortality in long-lived populations and their combination further increases discriminative power. The preliminary findings, if validated and translated, would help clinicians to identify the elderly people at varying mortality risk.

The prognostic significance of a postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients with colorectal cancer

Background

Recently, a preoperative systemic inflammatory response has been reported to be a prognostic factor in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the prognostic significance of a systemic inflammatory response in the early stage after surgery in patients with CRC is unknown. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of a postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients with CRC.

Methods

Two hundred and fifty-four patients who underwent potentially curative surgery for stage II/III CRC were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the prognosis and clinicopathological factors, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which were measured within two weeks before operation and at the first visit after leaving the hospital.

Results

The overall survival rates were significantly worse in the high preoperative NLR/preoperative GPS/postoperative NLR group. A multivariate analysis indicated that only preoperative GPS, postoperative NLR, and the number of lymph node metastases were independent prognostic factors for a poor survival.

Conclusions

The postoperative NLR is an independent prognostic factor in patients with CRC who underwent potentially curative surgery.

Comparison of neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios following coronary artery bypass surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery may induce postoperative systemic changes in leukocyte counts, including leukocytosis, neutrophilia or lymphopenia. This retrospective clinical study investigated whether offpump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery working on the beating heart without extracorporeal circulation could favourably affect leukocyte counts, including neutrophil-tolymphocyte (N:L) ratio, after CABG.

Methods

In this study, 30 patients who underwent isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and another 30 patients who underwent the same operation without CPB between May 2010 and May 2013, were screened from the computerised database of our hospital. Pre-operative, and first and fifth postoperative day differential counts of leukocytes with the N:L ratio of peripheral blood were obtained.

Results

A significant increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil counts and N:L ratio, and a decrease in lymphocyte counts were observed at all time points after surgery in both groups. N:L ratio was significantly higher in the CPB group compared with the OPCAB group on the first postoperative day (20.73 ± 13.85 vs 10.19 ± 4.55, p < 0.001), but this difference disappeared on the fifth postoperative day.

Conclusion

CPB results in transient but significant changes in leukocyte counts in the peripheral blood stream in terms of N:L ratio compared with the off-pump technique of CABG.

Prognostic performance of inflammation-based prognostic indices in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases

A range of prognostic cellular indices of the systemic inflammatory response, namely the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), combination of platelet count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (COP-NLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), have been developed and found to have prognostic utility across varied malignancies. The current study is the first to examine the prognostic value of these six inflammatory scores in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Data from 302 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for resectable CRLM were evaluated. The prognostic influence of clinicopathological variables and the inflammatory scores NLR, dNLR, PLR, LMR, COP-NLR and PNI upon overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were determined by log-rank analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. High preoperative NLR was the only inflammatory variable independently associated with shortened OS (HR 1.769, 95 % CI 1.302-2.403, P < 0.001) or CSS (HR 1.927, 95 % CI 1.398-2.655, P < 0.001) following metastasectomy. When NLR was replaced by dNLR in analyses, high dNLR was independently associated with shortened OS (HR 1.932, 95 % CI 1.356-2.754, P < 0.001) and CSS (HR 1.807, 95 % CI 1.209-2.702, P = 0.004). The inflammatory scores PLR, LMR, COP-NLR and PNI demonstrated no independent association with either overall or cancer-specific survival in the study population. Our findings support high preoperative NLR and dNLR as independent prognostic factors for poor outcome in patients undergoing CRLM resection, with prognostic value superior to other cellular-based systemic inflammatory scores.

Socioeconomic status influences the likelihood but not the outcome of liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the socioeconomic profile of patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) in a regional hepatopancreatobiliary unit with that of the local population. A further aim was to determine if degree of deprivation is associated with tumour recurrence after resection.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing liver resection for CLM was performed. Geodemographic segmentation was used to divide the population into five categories of socioeconomic status (SES).

RESULTS

During a 7-year period, 303 patients underwent resection for CLM. The proportion of these patients in the two least deprived categories of SES was greater than that of the local population (50.2% versus 40.2%) and the proportion in the two most deprived categories was lower (18.3% versus 30.1%) (P < 0.001). There was no difference in recurrence rate (P = 0.867) or disease-free survival among categories of SES (P = 0.913). Multivariate analysis demonstrated no association between SES and tumour recurrence (P = 0.700).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver resection for CLM is performed more commonly among the least socioeconomically deprived population than among the most deprived. However, degree of deprivation was not associated with tumour recurrence after resection.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment serum levels of albumin, LDH and total bilirubin in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

Liver function tests (LFTs) have been reported as independent predictors of non-liver disease-related morbidity and mortality in general population and cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between pretreatment serum LFTs and overall survival (OS) in non-metastatic Caucasian breast cancer patients. Seven LFTs, including albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin and total protein, were measured in pretreatment serum from 2425 female Caucasian patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed non-metastatic invasive breast cancer. Multivariate Cox model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association of individual LFTs with 5-year OS while adjusting for age, smoking status, pathological characteristics and treatment regimen. We found that serum albumin, LDH and total bilirubin were significantly associated with 5-year OS in multivariate Cox analyses. Patients with higher albumin level exhibited 45% reduced risk of death (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.75) compared with those with lower albumin level. Patients with higher total bilirubin level had a nearly 40% reduction in the risk of death (HR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.45-0.85) and patients with higher LDH levels had a 1.42-fold increased risk of death (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.08-1.88). Furthermore, cumulative analysis showed a significant dose-response trend of significantly increasing risk of death with increasing number of unfavorable LFT levels. Our result highlighted the potential of using pretreatment serum levels of albumin, LDH and total bilirubin as prognostic factors for OS in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios and serum cytokine changes after hepatic artery chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell infusions for liver metastases

Introduction

Our phase I Hepatic Immunotherapy for Metastases (HITM) trial tested the safety of chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell (CAR-T) hepatic artery infusions (HAI) for unresectable CEA+ liver metastases (LM). High neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios (NLR) predict poor outcome in cancer patients and we hypothesized that NLR changes would correlate with early responses to CAR-T HAI.

Methods

Six patients completed the protocol. Three patients received CAR-T HAI in dose escalation (1 × 10⁸, 1 × 10⁹, and 1 × 10¹⁰cells) and the remainder received 3 doses (1 × 10¹⁰ cells) with IL2 support. Serum cytokines and NLR were measured at multiple time points.

Results

The mean NLR for all patients was 13.9 (range 4.8-38.1). NLR increased in four patients following treatment with a mean fold change of 1.9. Serum IL6 levels and NLR fold-changes demonstrated a trend towards a positive correlation (r=0.77, p=0.10). Patients with poor CEA responses were significantly more likely to have higher NLR level increases (p=0.048).

Conclusions

Increased NLR levels were associated with poor responses following CAR-T HAI. NLR variations and associated cytokine changes may be useful surrogates of response to CAR-T HAI.

Prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammation may play an important role in cancer progression, and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in several malignancies. Here we quantify the prognostic impact of this biomarker and assess its consistency in solid tumors.

METHODS

A systematic review of electronic databases was conducted to identify publications exploring the association of blood NLR and clinical outcome in solid tumors. Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome, and cancer-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were secondary outcomes. Data from studies reporting a hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) or a P value were pooled in a meta-analysis. Pooled hazard ratios were computed and weighted using generic inverse-variance and random-effect modeling. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

One hundred studies comprising 40559 patients were included in the analysis, 57 of them published in 2012 or later. Median cutoff for NLR was 4. Overall, NLR greater than the cutoff was associated with a hazard ratio for OS of 1.81 (95% CI = 1.67 to 1.97; P < .001), an effect observed in all disease subgroups, sites, and stages. Hazard ratios for NLR greater than the cutoff for CSS, PFS, and DFS were 1.61, 1.63, and 2.27, respectively (all P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

A high NLR is associated with an adverse OS in many solid tumors. The NLR is a readily available and inexpensive biomarker, and its addition to established prognostic scores for clinical decision making warrants further investigation.

Nuclear orphan receptor NR4A2 confers chemoresistance and predicts unfavorable prognosis of colorectal carcinoma patients who received postoperative chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

NR4A2, an orphan nuclear receptor essential in neuron generation, has been recently linked to inflammatory and metabolic pathways of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, the effects of NR4A2 on chemo-resistance and postoperative prognosis of CRC remain unknown.

METHODS

NR4A2 was transfected into CRC cells to investigate its effects on chemo-resistance to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin and chemotherapeutics-induced apoptosis. We also investigated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced NR4A2 expression and its effect on chemo-resistance. Tissue microarrays including 51 adenoma, 14 familial adenomatous polyposis with CRC, 17 stage IV CRC with adjacent mucosa and 682 stage I-III CRC specimens were examined immunohistochemically for NR4A2 expression. Median follow-up time for stage I-III CRC patients was 53 months.

RESULTS

Ectopic expression of NR4A2 increased the chemo-resistance, and attenuated the chemotherapeutics-induced apoptosis. Transient treatment of PGE2 significantly up-regulated NR4A2 expression via protein kinase A pathway and increased the chemo-resistance. NR4A2 expression in epithelials consecutively increased from adenoma, adjacent mucosa to CRC (P(trend)<0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, high NR4A2 expression in cancer nuclei (immunoreactive score ≥ 4) significantly predicted a shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) of CRC patients (hazard ratio [HR]=1.88, P=0.024). High NR4A2 expression specifically predicted a shorter DSS of colon cancer patients (dichotomisation, HR=2.55, log-rank test P=0.011), especially for those who received postoperative 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy (3-score range, HR=1.86, log-rank test P=0.020).

CONCLUSION

High expression of NR4A2 in CRC cells confers chemo-resistance, attenuates chemotherapeutics-induced apoptosis, and predicts unfavorable prognosis of colon cancer patients, especially for those who received postoperative chemotherapy. NR4A2 may be prognostic and predictive for colon cancer.

Pre-operative hypoalbuminaemia predicts poor overall survival in rectal cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis

Background

Serum albumin is a marker of nutrition and inflammation. It has recently emerged as a predictor of outcome after surgery for rectal cancer. Our aim was to evaluate if pre-operative serum albumin would predict survival after resection for rectal cancer.

Method

226 Patients with rectal cancer of all stages undergoing resection with curative intent were studied. Kaplan-Meier curves analysed survival based on a pre-operative albumin level of <35 g/L vs. >35 g/L. We sought for significant associations of survival with age, sex, stage, tumour site, use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, microscopic positive resection margins, differentiation, angio, peri-neural, and lymphovascular invasion using individual variable analysis. Multifactorial analysis was performed using type III analysis with Weibull hazard model and Cox-proportional hazard model. Significance was assigned to a P value <0.05.

Results

Of 226 patients (median age- 59 years; range 19 – 88, Male - 54%), forty five (20%) had an albumin level < 35 g/L and was associated with a poor overall survival (P = 0.02). Mean survival in months for <35 g/L vs. >35 g/L was 64.7 (SE - 9.3) vs. 95.8 (SE – 7.0) and 5 year overall survival rates were 49% and 69%. Individual variable analysis revealed age, circumferential margin, stage, perineural, lympho-vascular and angio invasion to be also significant. With multifactorial analysis hypoalbuminaemia (HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35 - 0.95, P = 0.03), advanced stage (HR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.26 - 3.23, P < 0.01) and positive circumferential margin (HR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.26 - 3.89, P < 0.01) remained significant.

Conclusion

Preoperative hypoalbuminaemia is an independent risk factor for poor overall survival in rectal cancer. Advanced tumour stage and circumferential margin positivity were the other associations with poor survival.

Survival after liver resection in metastatic colorectal cancer: review and meta-analysis of prognostic factors

Background

Hepatic metastases develop in approximately 50% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases. We performed a review and meta-analysis to evaluate survival after resection of CRC liver metastases (CLMs) and estimated the summary effect for seven prognostic factors.

Methods

Studies published between 1999 and 2010, indexed on Medline, that reported survival after resection of CLMs, were reviewed. Meta-relative risks for survival by prognostic factor were calculated, stratified by study size and annual clinic volume. Cumulative meta-analysis results by annual clinic volume were plotted.

Results

Five- and 10-year survival ranged from 16% to 74% (median 38%) and 9% to 69% (median 26%), respectively, based on 60 studies. The overall summary median survival time was 3.6 (range: 1.7–7.3) years. Meta-relative risks (95% confidence intervals) by prognostic factor were: node positive primary, 1.6 (1.5–1.7); carcinoembryonic antigen level, 1.9 (1.1–3.2); extrahepatic disease, 1.9 (1.5–2.4); poor tumor grade, 1.9 (1.3–2.7); positive margin, 2.0 (1.7–2.5); >1 liver metastases, 1.6 (1.4–1.8); and >3 cm tumor diameter, 1.5 (1.3–1.8). Cumulative meta-analyses by annual clinic volume suggested improved survival with increasing volume.

Conclusion

The overall median survival following CLM liver resection was 3.6 years. All seven investigated prognostic factors showed a modest but significant predictive relationship with survival, and certain prognostic factors may prove useful in determining optimal therapeutic options. Due to the increasing complexity of surgical interventions for CLM and the inclusion of patients with higher disease burdens, future studies should consider the potential for selection and referral bias on survival.

Systemic inflammatory response is a predictor of outcome in patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer

AIM

Current management of locally advanced rectal cancer includes neoadjuvant chemoradiation in selected patients to increase the chance of a tumour-free circumferential resection margin. There is uncertainty over the role of and selection criteria for additional systemic therapy in this group of patients. In this retrospective study we investigate the association between markers of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and outcome from treatment.

METHOD

One hundred and fifteen patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiation had recording of full blood count parameters including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratios (PLR). Postoperative surgical margins (R status) and pathological stage were documented. Outcome measures were overall survival (OS), time to local recurrence (TTLR) and disease-free survival (DFS). Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of outcome.

RESULTS

Only NLR and R status were significant predictors for all outcome measures on univariate and multivariate analysis. Elevated NLR (≥5) was associated with decreased OS, [hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI, 7.0 (2.6-19.2)], decreased TTLR [HR 3.8 (1.3-11.2)] and shorter DFS [HR 4.1 (1.7-9.8)]. Median survival for patients with an elevated NLR was 18.8 months compared with 54.4 months without an elevated NLR (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In addition to postoperative R-status, an elevated NLR is also a valuable prognostic marker in patients undergoing chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal carcinoma. It is associated with worse OS, TTLR and DFS. An elevated NLR may be a useful additional tool in guiding the decision-making process for adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapies.

Management of colorectal cancer patients after resection of liver metastases: can we offer a tailored treatment?

Surgical resection remains the only option of cure for patients with colorectal liver metastases, and no patient should be precluded from surgery. There is much controversy not only regarding the most appropriate therapeutic approach in the neoadjuvant setting but also after surgery is performed. Many patients will experience early relapses but others will be long survivors. We need to establish reliable prognostic and predictive factors to offer a tailored treatment. Several prognostic factors after metastasectomy have been identified: high C-reactive protein levels, a high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, elevated neutrophil count and low serum albumin are related to a worst outcome. Elevated CEA and Ki 67 levels, intrahepatic and perihepatic lymph node invasion are also some of the markers related to a worst outcome. In contrast, the administration of preoperative chemotherapy has been associated with a better prognosis after hepatectomy. The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy should be done taking in consideration these factors. Regarding predictive factors, determination of ERCC1, TS, TP and DPD and UGT1 polymorphisms assessment could be considered prior to chemotherapy administration. This would avoid treatment related toxicities and increase this population quality of life.

Relationship between serum albumin concentration and periodontal condition in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Serum albumin concentration is known to be an independent predictor of survival in head and neck cancer. The previous studies suggested relationships between serum albumin concentration and oral health status in populations without serious systemic disorders. However, these relationships remain unclear in patients with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum albumin concentration and oral health status in patients with head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Fifty individuals diagnosed with primary head and neck cancer, 25 individuals with normal serum albumin concentration (≥3.85 g/dL), and 25 age- and sex-matched individuals with lower serum albumin concentration (<3.85 g/dL) were analyzed. General status, including cancer stage, body mass index, drinking and smoking habits, and biochemical serum markers, were evaluated. Oral health status, including periodontal condition and occlusion tooth pairs, were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Mean clinical attachment level (CAL) and C-reactive protein in the lower serum albumin concentration group were greater than those in the normal serum albumin concentration group (P = 0.009 and P = 0.002, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in any other oral and/or serum parameters between the two serum albumin groups. A logistic regression model showed that mean CAL was significantly associated with high or low levels of serum albumin concentration (odds ratio = 9.752; 95% confidence interval = 1.702 to 55.861; P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests an association between periodontal disease and serum albumin concentration in patients with head and neck cancer. Longitudinal studies are necessary to examine the causal relationship between serum albumin concentration and periodontal condition.

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with colorectal liver metastases: a single center study and review of the literature

PURPOSE

Prognosis after resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer is influenced by a variety of clinical factors. For more than 20 years, efforts have been made to restructure and simplify prognostic parameters into clinical scores. We evaluated the influence of various clinical and pathological factors on survival and recurrence and developed a simple model for risk stratification.

METHODS

We have analyzed a total of 13 prognostic factors in 382 consecutive and prospectively enrolled R0-resected patients and applied our data set to ten published prognostic scoring systems. Prognostic factors that influenced disease-specific and disease-free survival were included into a model clinical risk score.

RESULTS

The 5- and 10-year observed survival rates were 43% and 28%, respectively, for all 382 patients. The disease-specific 5- and 10-year survival rates were 49% and 37%, respectively; the 5- and 10-year recurrence rates were 68% and 70%, respectively. For patients with synchronous liver metastases, survival was not affected by the timing of liver resection. The prognosis after treatment of any recurrence was best after the accomplishment of a repeated R0 situation, independent of the location of the recurrence. In the multivariate analysis, the disease-specific survival and recurrence rates were statistically significantly influenced by more than three lymph node metastases of the primary tumor, more than two lesions within the liver, and the presence of extrahepatic tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

From these data, we have developed a simple score for the risk stratification which may be useful for future studies on interdisciplinary management of colorectal liver metastases.

Prognostic value of an inflammation-based score in patients undergoing pre-operative chemotherapy followed by surgery for esophageal cancer

Recent studies have shown that the presence of systemic inflammation is associated with poor outcome in patients with malignancy. However, whether systemic inflammation affects the response to pre-operative therapy and survival of patients undergoing multimodal treatment for esophageal cancer is not clear. We studied 152 patients who underwent pre-operative chemotherapy followed by surgery for esophageal cancer. The correlation between various clinicopathological factors, including hematological markers of systemic inflammatory response, and survival or response to chemotherapy was examined. Among various hematological factors, leucocyte count, hemoglobin level, albumin level, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and CEA, but not serum concentration of C-reactive protein, were significantly associated with survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that the clinical response to chemotherapy, number of metastatic lymph nodes, operative complications and systemic inflammation score (SI score), comprising leucocyte count, albumin and hemoglobin levels, were independent prognostic factors, and identified the SI score as the most significant prognostic factor. There was no significant relationship between hematological markers of systemic inflammation, including the SI score, and the response to chemotherapy. In conclusion, in patients scheduled for chemotherapy followed by surgery for esophageal cancer, systemic inflammation, reflected by SI, predicts poor outcome, but not the response to chemotherapy.

Pretreatment serum albumin as a predictor of cancer survival: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature

Background

There are several methods of assessing nutritional status in cancer of which serum albumin is one of the most commonly used. In recent years, the role of malnutrition as a predictor of survival in cancer has received considerable attention. As a result, it is reasonable to investigate whether serum albumin has utility as a prognostic indicator of cancer survival in cancer. This review summarizes all available epidemiological literature on the association between pretreatment serum albumin levels and survival in different types of cancer.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature using the MEDLINE database (January 1995 through June 2010) to identify epidemiologic studies on the relationship between serum albumin and cancer survival. To be included in the review, a study must have: been published in English, reported on data collected in humans with any type of cancer, had serum albumin as one of the or only predicting factor, had survival as one of the outcome measures (primary or secondary) and had any of the following study designs (case-control, cohort, cross-sectional, case-series prospective, retrospective, nested case-control, ecologic, clinical trial, meta-analysis).

Results

Of the 29 studies reviewed on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, all except three found higher serum albumin levels to be associated with better survival in multivariate analysis. Of the 10 studies reviewed on lung cancer, all excepting one found higher serum albumin levels to be associated with better survival. In 6 studies reviewed on female cancers and multiple cancers each, lower levels of serum albumin were associated with poor survival. Finally, in all 8 studies reviewed on patients with other cancer sites, lower levels of serum albumin were associated with poor survival.

Conclusions

Pretreatment serum albumin levels provide useful prognostic significance in cancer. Accordingly, serum albumin level could be used in clinical trials to better define the baseline risk in cancer patients. A critical gap for demonstrating causality, however, is the absence of clinical trials demonstrating that raising albumin levels by means of intravenous infusion or by hyperalimentation decreases the excess risk of mortality in cancer.

Implications of cancer-associated systemic inflammation for biomarker studies

Highly sensitive molecular technologies provide new capacities for cancer biomarker research, but with sensitivity improvements marker specificity is significantly decreased, and too many false-positive results should disqualify the measurement from clinical use. Hence, of the thousands of potential cancer biomarkers only a few have found their way to clinical application. Differentiating false-positive results from true-positive (cancer-specific) results can indeed be difficult, if validation of a marker is performed against inadequate controls. We present examples of accumulating evidence that not only local but also systemic inflammatory reactions are implicated in cancer development and progression and interfere with the molecular image of cancer disease. We analyze several modern strategies of tumor marker discovery, namely, proteomics, metabonomics, studies on circulating tumor cells and circulating free nucleic acids, or their methylation degree, and provide examples of scarce, methodologically correct biomarker studies as opposed to numerous methodologically flawed biomarker studies, that examine cancer patients' samples against those of healthy, inflammation-free persons and present many inflammation-related biomarker alterations in cancer patients as cancer-specific. Inflammation as a cancer-associated condition should always be considered in cancer biomarker studies, and biomarkers should be validated against their expression in inflammatory conditions.

First-line therapy with doxycycline in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a retrospective analysis of clinical predictors

This retrospective study was launched to evaluate the efficacy of doxycycline and to find independent predictors of a clinical response in patients with ocular adnexal lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (OAML). Thirty-eight patients with newly diagnosed, localized OAML received doxycycline for 3 weeks (12 patients) or 6 weeks (26 patients). Clinical factors including absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and neutrophil count (ANC) were compared between responders and non-responders. After a median follow-up of 26.4 months, doxycycline resulted in an overall response rate of 47% and a 3-year time-to-treatment failure (TTF) rate of 84%. Patients treated with doxycycline for 6 weeks versus 3 weeks tended to have a higher response rate (54%vs 33%). Absolute lymphocytosis (ALC > 3.01 x 10(9)/L) and absolute neutrophilia (ANC > 1.92 x 10(9)/L) were defined based on the median value of each count. Patients with (19 patients) versus without absolute lymphocytosis had significantly shorter 2-year TTF (70%vs 100%, P = 0.021) and a lower response rate (32%vs 63%, P = 0.051). Absolute lymphocytosis (odds ratio [OR] = 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-20.8; P = 0.043) and non-conjunctival tumor (OR = 11.8; 95% CI, 1.1-122.5; P = 0.038) were negative predictors for response by multivariate analysis. Front-line doxycycline is effective particularly in localized OAML patients without absolute lymphocytosis but with conjunctival involvement.

Role of systemic inflammatory response in predicting survival in patients with primary operable cancer

Disease progression in cancer is dependent on the complex interaction between the tumor and the host inflammatory response. There is substantial evidence in advanced cancer that host factors, such as weight loss, poor performance status and the host systemic inflammatory response, are linked, and the latter is an important tumor-stage-independent predictor of outcome. Indeed, the systemic inflammatory response, as evidenced by an elevated level of C-reactive protein, is now included in the definition of cancer cachexia. This review examines the role of the systemic inflammatory response in predicting survival in patients with primary operable cancer. Approximately 80 studies have evaluated the role of the systemic inflammatory response using biochemical or hematological markers, such as elevated C-reactive protein levels, hypoalbuminemia or increased white cell, neutrophil and platelet counts. Combinations of such factors have been used to derive simple inflammation-based prognostic scores, such as the Glasgow Prognostic Score, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and the platelet:lymphocyte ratio. This review demonstrates that there is now good evidence that preoperative measures of the systemic inflammatory response predict cancer survival, independent of tumor stage, in primary operable cancer. The evidence is particularly robust in colorectal (including liver metastases), gastro-esophageal and renal cancers. As described in this article, measurement of the systemic inflammatory response is simple, reliable and can be clinically incorporated into current staging algorithms. This will provide the clinician with a better prediction of outcome, and therefore better treatment allocation in patients with primary operable cancer. Furthermore, systemic inflammation-based markers and prognostic scores not only identify patients at risk, but also provide well-defined therapeutic targets for future clinical trials.