Association of markers of systemic and local inflammation with prognosis of patients with rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant radiotherapy

Tumor microenvironment remodeling after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in local advanced rectal cancer revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing

BACKGROUND

The use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) followed by surgery has markedly enhanced the quality of survival in patients suffering from local advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Enhancing this treatment requires a deep understanding of its underlying mechanism. The heterogeneous nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly impacts therapeutic responses, presenting complex therapeutic challenges.

METHODS

In this comprehensive study, we explored the intricate cellular and molecular shifts within the TME of LARC after neoCRT administration. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we meticulously examined 32,417 cells sourced from six samples, each representing different tumor regression grades (TRG: 0 versus 2). This detailed analysis enabled us to characterize the various cell subpopulations, encompassing epithelial cells, lymphocytes, myeloid cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Additionally, we identified their marker genes for deconvolution calculation in the READ cohort of the TCGA project. And we obtain their marker genes for deconvolution calculation in the READ cohort of the TCGA project.

RESULTS

Through cluster analysis and pathway comparisons of malignant tumor cells, we discerned that samples with poor tumor regression exhibit enhanced metabolic versatility and adaptability, enabling them to counteract the impacts of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Interestingly, within the TRG2 cohort, we observed a predominant immunosuppressive state in the TME, characterized by the activation of CD4 + regulatory T cells, maintained CD8 + T cell functionality, and a heightened M1 to M2 macrophage ratio. Moreover, the differing outcomes of neoCRT were reflected in the varying interaction dynamics between macrophages (M1 and M2) and CD4+/CD8 + T cells. Furthermore, our data reveal that neoCRT intricately modulates fibroblasts and endothelial cells, primarily through the extracellular matrix remodeling pathway, which orchestrates tumor angiogenesis. All changes were validated through immunofluorescence staining on intraoperative samples before and after treatment. To summarize, our investigation presents a comprehensive exploration of the cellular and molecular metamorphoses within the TME post-neoCRT.

CONCLUSIONS

By unveiling the sophisticated interaction between the multifaceted cells within the TME and their respective reactions to neoCRT, we establish a robust platform for ensuing future investigations. This study paves the way for novel therapeutic strategies that leverage these insights to bolster the efficacy of neoCRT in managing LARC.

Assessing the role of prognostic nutritional index in predicting outcomes for rectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The association of Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) with prognosis has been established for various cancer types, including rectal cancer. However, the precise relationship between PNI and body composition characteristics in patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PNI on overall survival and disease-free survival in non-metastatic rectal cancer patients undergoing total surgical resection. Additionally, it sought to assess the inflammatory status and body composition in patients across different PNI levels.

METHODS

Patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer who underwent total surgical resection, were consecutively enrolled. PNI was calculated using the formula: PNI = (10 × serum albumin [g/dl]) + (0.005 × lymphocytes/μL). Body composition was assessed using CT-derived measurements and laboratory tests performed at diagnosis were used to calculate inflammatory indices. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses as well as Kaplan-Meier curves were used to determine prognostic values.

RESULTS

A total of 298 patients were included. Patients with low PNI demonstrated significantly reduced overall survival and disease-free survival compared to those with high PNI (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; Confidence interval [CI] 1.30-2 0.62; p = 0.001). Moreover, patients with low PNI exhibited heightened systemic inflammatory status and reduced skeletal muscle index, increased muscle radiodensity, as well as a decrease in subcutaneous adipose tissue area, subcutaneous fat index, and low attenuation of both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue.

CONCLUSION

The PNI, assessed prior to treatment initiation, serves as a prognostic biomarker for non-metastatic rectal cancer patients undergoing total surgical resection and is linked with both inflammation and alterations in body composition.

Gustative Roussy Immune Score is a Predictor for Major Pathological Response in Rectal Cancer: A Result from the Preoperative Intraarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Radiotherapy (PCAR) Study

Despite the emergence of various treatment strategies for rectal cancer based on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, there is currently a lack of reliable biomarkers to determine which patients will respond well to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Through collecting hematological and biochemical parameters data of patients prior to receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, we evaluated the predictive value of systemic inflammatory indices for pathological response and prognosis in rectal cancer patients. We found that baseline GRIm-Score was an independent predictor for MPR in rectal cancer patients. However, no association was observed between several commonly systemic inflammation indices and long-term outcome.

Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Complete Pathological Response in Rectal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND Pathologic response after neoadjuvant therapy has been shown to improve outcomes in rectal cancer. Inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have been studied to predict pathologic response and survival. This study aimed to evaluate the association between NLR and pathological response as well as outcome in patients with rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 187 patients with rectal cancer treated with nCRT followed by surgery between 2016 and 2020. The NLR was calculated using archival complete blood count records. Postoperative pathology reports were recorded. The NLR cut-off was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between NLR and clinicopathologic data to predict survival and prognosis. RESULTS An NLR >3.63 at diagnosis was the optimal cut-off value for predicting progression. Near-complete response rates were higher in patients with NLR <3.63 (38%) than in those with NLR >3.63 (18%) (P=0.035). The NLR <3.63 group had a significantly higher 5-year progression-free survival rate compared to the NLR >3.63 group (63.6% vs 40.1%, respectively; P=0.007). The NLR <3.63 group also had a higher 5-year overall survival (OS) rate than the NLR >3.63 group (72.3% vs 63.1%, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.077). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed a higher near-complete response rate in rectal cancer patients with NLR <3.63 receiving nCRT. This finding supports that a low preoperative NLR is a good prognostic factor in indicating pathological response.

The Prognostic Role of Baseline Eosinophils in HPV-Related Cancers: a Multi-institutional Analysis of Anal SCC and OPC Patients Treated with Radical CT-RT

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) are rare tumors associated with HPV infection. Bioumoral predictors of response to chemoradiation (CT-RT) are lacking in these settings. With the aim to find new biomarkers, we investigated the role of eosinophils in both HPV-positive anal SCC and HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).

METHODS

We retrieved clinical and laboratory data of patients with HPV-positive anal SCC treated with CT-RT in 5 institutions, and patients with locally advanced OPC SCC treated with CT-RT in 2 institutions. We examined the association between baseline eosinophil count (the best cutoff has been evaluated by ROC curve analysis: 100 × 10^9/L) and disease-free survival (DFS). Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios by baseline characteristics were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Three hundred four patients with HPV-positive anal SCCs and 168 patients with OPCs (122 HPV-positive, 46 HPV-negative diseases) were analyzed. In anal SCC, low eosinophil count (< 100 × 10^9/L) correlates to a better DFS (HR = 0.59; p = 0.0392); likewise, in HPV-positive OPC, low eosinophil count correlates to a better DFS (HR = 0.50; p = 0.0428). In HPV-negative OPC, low eosinophil count confers worse DFS compared to high eosinophil count (HR = 3.53; p = 0.0098). After adjustment for age and sex, eosinophils were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors for DFS (HR = 4.55; p = 0.0139).

CONCLUSION

Eosinophil count could be used as a prognostic factor in anal HPV-positive SCC. The worse prognosis showed in HPV-positive patients with high eosinophil count is likely to derive from an unfavorable interaction between the HPV-induced immunomodulation and eosinophils, which may hamper the curative effect of RT.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predict survival of patients with rectal cancer receiving neo-adjuvant chemoradiation followed by radical resection: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is suggested as a prognostic and predictive factor for patients with rectal cancer. The purpose of the current meta-analysis is to evaluate the relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the outcome of patients, with rectal cancer receiving chemoradiation and surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review on two databases and a selection of studies were done. Thereafter, two meta-analyses were performed, evaluating the relationship of baseline NLR with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Thirty-one retrospective studies were selected. Twenty-six studies have documented a significant relationship of NLR to OS (HR 2.05, CI 1.66-2.53), whereas 23 studies have reported a weaker but significant relationship of NLR to DFS (HR 1.78, CI 1.49-2.12). Among the moderator variables, a possible effect for age and sex on the relationship of NLR with DFS is suggested.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline NLR >3 is a simple and reproducible prognostic factor, with a more consistent effect in the elderly. It could be a reliable variable to support clinicians in defining personalized treatment strategies, even though a standardization of the cutoff and a better characterization among microsatellite unstable rectal tumors are necessary.

Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory markers in locally advanced rectal cancer (PILLAR) - A multicentric analysis by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) Gastrointestinal Study Group

Background

Patients (pts) affected with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) may respond differently to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The identification of reliable biomarkers able to predict oncological outcomes could help in the development of risk-adapted treatment strategies. It has been suggested that inflammation parameters may have a role in predicting tumor response to nCRT and survival outcomes and in rectal cancer, but no definitive conclusion can be drawn at present. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the role of baseline inflammatory markers as prognostic and predictive factors in a large multicentric Italian cohort of LARC pts.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with LARC from January 2002 to December 2019 in 9 Italian centers were retrospectively collected. Patients underwent long-course RT with chemotherapy based on fluoropyrimidine ± oxaliplatin followed by surgery. Inflammatory markers were retrieved based on a pre-treatment blood sample including HEI (hemo-eosinophils inflammation index), SII (systemic index of inflammation), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) and MLR (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio). Outcomes of interest were pathological complete response (pCR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

808 pts were analyzed. pCR rate was 22 %, 5yOS and 5yDFS were 84.0% and 63.1% respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that a NLR cut-off value >1.2 and SII cut-off value >500 could predict pCR (p = 0.05 and 0.009 respectively). In addition to age, extramesorectal nodes and RT dose, MLR >0.18 (p = 0.03) and HEI = 3 (p = 0.05) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. Finally, age, RT dose, MLR with a cut-off >0.35 (p = 0.028) and HEI = 3 (p = 0.045) were independent predictors of OS.

Conclusions

Higher values of baseline composite inflammatory markers can serve as predictors of lower pCR rates and worse survival outcomes in LARC patients undergoing nCRT. More reliable data from prospective studies could lead to the integration of these inexpensive and easy-to-derive tools into clinical practice.

Prognostic role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in operated rectal cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays an important role in tumor growth. Novel serum blood biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), have been proposed as useful prognostic indexes in cancer patients. However, their role in rectal cancer is controversial.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted including MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through May 2022. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Quality was appraised with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. Aim of the study was to summarize available literature on PLR, NLR, and LMR in patients with rectal cancer undergoing resection.

RESULTS

Forty-seven observational studies (14,205 patients) were included; there were 42 retrospective and 5 prospective cohort studies with an average MINORS score of 14.6 (range: 12-18). Worse overall survival was associated with high NLR (HR 1.81; 95%CI 1.52-2.15; p < 0.001), high PLR (HR 1.24; 95%CI 1.06-1.46; p = 0.009), and low LMR (HR 0.67; 95%CI 0.49-0.91; p = 0.01). High NLR and low LMR were also associated with disease-free-survival (HR 1.68; 95%CI 1.35-2.08; p < 0.001 and HR 0.71; 95%CI 0.58-0.87; p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

NLR, PLR, and LMR are independent clinical predictors for overall survival in patients with rectal cancer treated with curative surgery. NLR and LMR are also good predictors for disease free survival. These biomarkers, which are readily available, appear optimal prognostic indexes and may help clinicians predict the prognosis of rectal cancer and develop individualized treatment strategies.

Meta-Analysis on the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Rectal Cancer Treated With Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy: Prognostic Value of Pre- and Post-Chemoradiotherapy Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio

Background

To evaluate the prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and curative surgery.

Methods

A comprehensive search of the EMBASE and PubMed databases was performed to screen studies that compared treatment outcomes according to the pre-CRT and/or post-CRT NLR in patients receiving preoperative CRT and curative surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) for disease-free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) were extracted, and a random-effects model was used for pooled analysis.

Results

Totally, 22 retrospective studies comprising 6316 patients were included. Preoperative CRT was administered with concurrent chemotherapy (mostly fluoropyrimidine-based regimens). The elevated pre-CRT NLR was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence (HR, 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-1.81) and death (HR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.61-2.84). Post-CRT NLR was reported in only 3 of 22 studies, and the correlation was not statistically significant for recurrence (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.86-2.41) or death (HR, 2.38; 95% CI, 0.94-6.07).

Conclusions

Elevated pre-CRT NRL, but not post-CRT NRL, is associated with inferior DFS and OS. Further studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of NLR in rectal cancer patients receiving preoperative CRT.

Platelet to lymphocyte ratio is associated with tumor localization and outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive and prognostic value of PLR, and the relationship between PLR and tumor localization.A total of 229 patients with de-novo metastatic CRC were retrospectively analyzed. The cutoff value for PLR was defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and threshold value of 196.5 as best cut-off value was found.The higher rate of BRAF mutation was significantly detected for patients with PLRhigh (> 196.5) compared to those with PLRlow (≤196.5) (P = .001). PLR was significantly higher in tumors located on the right colon (P = .012). PLR, tumor localization, the presence of surgery for primary tumor, the presence of curative surgery, the presence of metastasectomy for progression-free survival (PFS) and PLR, gender, BRAF mutation, tumor localization, the presence of surgery for primary tumor, the presence of metastasectomy for overall survival (OS) were found to be prognostic factors by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that PLR, the presence of curative surgery and the presence of metastasectomy for both PFS and OS were found to be independent prognostic factors. Moreover, a logistic regression analysis indicated that PLR and tumor localization were found to be an independent factors for predicting response to systemic treatment (P < .001 and P = .023 respectively).Our results showed that pretreatment PLR was readily feasible and simple biomarker predicting response to treatment and survival, in addition it was significantly associated with tumor localization.

Systemic Inflammatory Markers Combined with Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Density for the Improved Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported the utility of systemic inflammatory markers and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) separately in predicting response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer; however, the efficacy of combining these markers remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to elucidate the predictive efficacy of systemic inflammatory markers combined with CD8+ TIL density on response to neoadjuvant CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer.

METHODS

Ten systemic inflammatory markers and CD8+ TIL density were assessed in 267 patients with rectal cancer using pretreatment clinical data and biopsy samples. Response to CRT was determined using the Dworak tumor regression grade (TRG), with good responders classified as TRG3-4.

RESULTS

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed high areas under the curve for the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) and neutrophil × monocyte (N × M) value (0.58 and 0.62, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, LCR, N × M value, and CD8+ TIL density were independently associated with good responders (p = 0.016, 0.005, and 0.002, respectively). Stratified analysis with these three markers showed a positive correlation between TRG3-4 ratio and the number of positive predictive factors (8.2%, 20.0%, 34.2%, and 59.1% in patients with 0, 1, 2, and 3 predictors, respectively). Overall and disease-free survival were significantly worse in patients with zero factors present compared with those with one to three factors present.

CONCLUSIONS

LCR, N × M value, and CD8+ TIL density are independently associated with response to CRT. Assessing local TIL density along with systemic inflammatory markers may be useful for selecting a multimodal neoadjuvant approach in rectal cancer therapy.

Prognostic Role of Peripheral Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

To investigate the predictive and prognostic role of pretreatment hematological parameters for tumor response and outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

METHODS

From 2010 to 2016, 53 patients with LARC who underwent surgery following nCRT were analyzed. All hematological parameters were obtained from the initial blood tests performed before nCRT. The optimal cutoff values of significant hematological parameters for pathological tumor response (pTR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Patients have categorized into "good" and "poor" response groups according to their pathological results, and clinical-pathologic variables compared between the two groups. All survival analysis was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Uni-multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

In the ROC analysis, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for OS and absolute platelet count and PLR for DFS were found as significant prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, surgical margin, ypN stage, and elevated PLR were significantly associated with OS, and likewise, high PLR was found as an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were worse in patients with high PLR group (82.3 vs. 47.3% for OS, p = 0.018 and 88.2 vs. 51.3% for DFS, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment high PLR is associated with worse OS and DFS in patients with rectal cancer. To use in daily practice, further studies are needed on its validation.

Prognostic value of pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

The aim of this study was to explore the most powerful systemic inflammation marker of survival in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients and construct prognostic  nomograms. A total of 472 LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and radical surgery from 2011 to 2015 were included. The optimal cutoff points for the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII); and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR) ratios were calculated and determined by using the X-tile program. The cut-off values were 797.6. 2.3, 169.5, and 0.4, respectively. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that higher pathological TNM stage, the AJCC tumor regression grade, and the NLR level were significantly associated with increased overall survival and disease-free survival. High NLR level (≥ 2.3) was associated with higher pre-NCRT CA19-9 levels, lower hemoglobin, larger tumor size, and more lymph nodes retrieved (p = 0.012, p = 0.024, and p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). High NRL scores were associated with poorer 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival (p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Predictive nomograms and time-independent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve that included the NLR score group were superior to those without NLR scores. Higher NLR scores (≥2 0.3) were associated with poorer DFS and OS in LARC patients. In addition, NLR was identified as the most effective marker for systemic inflammation, and the prognostic value was further confirmed by time-dependent ROC analysis. More intense adjuvant treatment could be considered for higher NLR score patients with LARC following NCRT.

An inflammation index-based prediction of treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of hematological inflammation-based indexes in the treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in rectal mucinous adenocarcinomas (MACs).

METHODS

Patients with rectal MACs undergoing NCRT and curative resection were included. Inflammation-based indexes such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were calculated. Receiver operator characteristics analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff points. Multivariable logistic analysis identified predictors of good response to NCRT. A nomogram was developed and validated internally.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 32 patients developing good response (tumor regression grade, TRG 0 + 1) to NCRT. Lower pre-treatment SII, NLR, and PLR levels were associated with a higher probability of good response to NCRT (P = 0.025, P < 0.001, P = 0.003, respectively), and a higher pre-treatment PNI level was associated with a higher probability of good response to NCRT (P = 0.005). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tumor size (< 3 cm, OR = 5.489, P = 0.025), pre-treatment NLR level (< 3.05, OR = 4.025, P = 0.028), pre-treatment PLR level (< 145.98, OR = 4.337, P = 0.038), and pre-treatment PNI level (≥ 41.32, OR = 3.477, P = 0.039) were independent predictors of good response to NCRT. A nomogram was developed with a C-index of 0.827.

CONCLUSION

Hematological inflammation-based indexes, in terms of pre-treatment NLR, PLR, and PNI levels, can help in predicting the treatment response to NCRT for rectal MACs.

Diagnostic value of platelet-lymphocyte ratio and hemoglobin-platelet ratio in patients with rectal cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of platelet‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and hemoglobin‐platelet ratio (HPR) combined or not with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in rectal cancer.

Methods

We recruited 235 patients pathologically diagnosed with rectal cancer, 113 patients with benign rectal diseases, and 229 healthy control patients in this retrospective analysis. Then, the correlation between PLR, HPR, and clinicopathological findings was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of PLR and HPR combined or not with CEA in rectal cancer patients.

Results

The levels of PLR, HPR, and CEA were higher in rectal cancer patients than those in the subjects with benign rectal diseases (P < .001) and the healthy controls (P < .001). Platelet‐lymphocyte ratio and HPR were associated with lymph node metastasis and tumor stage, rather than serosa invasion, distant metastasis, or tumor size. PLR or HPR combined with CEA produced larger area under curve (AUC) (AUC_PLR+CEA = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.70‐0.79, AUC_HPR+CEA = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.71‐0.80) than PLR (P < .0001), HPR (P < .0001), or CEA (P = .024) alone.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that PLR or HPR combined with CEA can increase diagnostic efficacy and may be a useful diagnostic marker for patients with rectal cancer.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Rectal Cancer-Novel Biomarker of Tumor Immunogenicity During Radiotherapy or Confounding Variable?

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of blood-derived makers of local and systemic inflammatory responses on early and long-term oncological outcomes. A retrospective analysis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative long-course 5-fluorouracil-based radiochemotherapy was performed. Differential blood counts before neoadjuvant treatment were extracted from the patients' electronic charts. Optimal cut-off values for neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were determined. Potential clinical and hematological prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS) were studied using uni- and multivariate analysis. A total of 220 patients were included in the analysis. Median follow-up was 67 months. Five-year DFS and overall survival (OS) were 70% and 85%, respectively. NLR with a cut-off value of 4.06 was identified as optimal to predict DFS events. In multivariate analysis, only tumor volume (HR 0.33, 95% CI (0.14-0.83), p = 0.017) and NLR (HR 0.3, 95% CI (0.11-0.81), p = 0.017) remained significant predictors of DFS. Patients with a good histological response (Dworak 3 and 4) to radiotherapy also had a lower NLR than patients with less pronounced tumor regression (3.0 vs. 4.2, p = 0.015). A strong correlation between primary tumor volume and NLR was seen (Pearson's r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Moreover, patients with T4 tumors had a significantly higher NLR than patients with T1-T3 tumors (6.6 vs. 3.3, p < 0.001). An elevated pretherapeutic NLR was associated with higher T stage, inferior DFS, and poor pathological response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. A strong correlation between NLR and primary tumor volume was seen. This association is important for the interpretation of study results and for the design of translational studies which are warranted.

A meta-analysis of the impact of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on treatment outcomes after radiotherapy for solid tumors

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the impact of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) as a prognostic factor in predicting treatment outcomes after radiotherapy (RT) for solid tumors.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase databases were used to search for articles published by February 2019 based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate the association between NLR levels and treatment outcomes after RT. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) rates. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, disease-free survival, and disease-specific survival rates.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight datasets with a total of 7065 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with high pretreatment NLR demonstrated significantly worse OS with a pooled HR of 1.90 (95% CI 1.66-2.17, P < .001). In patients receiving RT alone, the pooled HR for OS was 1.71 (95% CI 1.44-2.04, P < .001) with no between-study heterogeneity (I = 0%, P = .46).

CONCLUSION

Elevated pretreatment NLR is associated with poorer survival in cancer patients undergoing RT. Elevated pretreatment NLR prior to RT initiation may be a useful biomarker to predict treatment outcomes and select a subgroup of patients in need of a more aggressive treatment approach.

Role of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the survival of primary parotid cancer patients

BACKGROUND

To analyze the value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the survival of patients with parotid cancer.

METHODS

In total, 249 patients were enrolled. Information including age, sex, pretreatment NLR, and pathologic variables such as, tumor stage, intraparotid node (IPN) metastasis, and follow-up findings was extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

IPN metastasis was noted in 45 (18.1%) patients, and the mean NLR was 2.48, with a range from 1.5 to 6.1. The NLR was significantly associated with tumor stage, disease stage, and disease grade. A total of 73 patients died of the disease, and the 10 -year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate was 62%. In patients with an NLR<2.48, the 10 -year DSS rate was 68%; in patients with an NLR≥2.48, the 10 -year DSS rate was 58%, and the difference was significant (P=0.006). Cox model analysis showed that the NLR was an independent prognostic factor for DSS.

CONCLUSION

The long-term survival of primary parotid cancer patients is relatively favorable, and the pretreatment NLR is significantly associated with prognosis.