Prognostic Significance of Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, or Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Endometrial Neoplasms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Clinical Correlations between Serological Markers and Endometrial Cancer

Background: Endometrial cancer is associated with changes in blood cell counts and with high levels of inflammatory markers, thus reflecting the tumor's impact on various biological processes and suggesting their potential as biomarkers for endometrial cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood sampled preoperatively from patients have been reported to be independently associated with the prognosis of different types of malignancies. Objectives: This study aimed to compare several blood markers-red blood cells, white blood cells, platelet parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen-in patients with benign or malignant endometrial tumors. Material and methods: Our retrospective study included 670 patients (192 diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 478 with endometrial hyperplasia), and we compared the serological parameters discussed above with those sampled the day before surgery. Results: Analysis of complete blood count indices revealed no significant differences in red blood cell or total white blood cell parameters between the endometrial cancer group and the endometrial hyperplasia group. However, a distinct pattern emerged in the white blood cell differential. The endometrial cancer group showed a statistically significant decrease in lymphocyte count compared with the endometrial hyperplasia group. In contrast, the endometrial cancer group showed significantly higher mean platelet counts and increased mean platelet volume compared with controls. Furthermore, the endometrial cancer group demonstrated a marked inflammatory response, as evidenced by significantly elevated levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio compared with the endometrial hyperplasia group. Conclusions: The current research revealed statistically significant differences in multiple serological biomarkers between the two groups. These findings support the initial hypothesis regarding the potential utility of these biomarkers in endometrial cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response, highlighting the existence of biomarkers affordable for analysis under any health system, regardless of the country's level of development.

Low Hemoglobin Level and Elevated Inflammatory Hematological Ratios Associated With Depression and Sleep Disturbance

BACKGROUND

The relationship between blood cell profiles, including hemoglobin (Hb) levels and inflammatory hematological ratios, and mental health problems currently remains unclear.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood cell profiles and mental health issues, including depressive state and sleep disturbance, while adjusting for potential demographic confounders.

METHODOLOGY

This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study used a population-based medical database from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project with more than 60,000 volunteers. Data on age, sex, daily tobacco use, body mass index, and self-reported scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 62,796 volunteers (23,663 males and 39,133 females), aged ≥20 years at the time of the blood test, agreed to participate in this study. Among the evaluated blood cell profiles, Hb, hematocrit, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were significantly correlated with the K6, AIS, and CES-D scores, with strong statistical significance (p<0.0001 for all) in bivariate correlation analyses. A significant adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of the Hb level for elevated CES-D scores (aOR=0.965 [95% CI: 0.949-0.981], p<0.0001) was confirmed after adjusting for demographic data and daily tobacco use using a logistic regression model. Sensitivity analyses revealed that these associations existed in both males and females but were more prominent in the former. In male participants, a low Hb level was significantly associated with an elevated AIS score. The evaluated inflammatory hematological ratios, including NLR, PLR, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), also showed significant aORs with the K6, AIS, and CES-D scores after adjusting for demographic background.

CONCLUSION

Low Hb levels and elevated inflammatory hematological ratios (NLR, MLR, and PLR) were associated with depressive state and sleep disturbances in the general population.

A meta-analysis of predictive value of blood biomarkers in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to play a diagnostic and predictive role in gestational trophoblastic disease. However, the conclusions are still ambiguous. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the combined predictive value of NLR and PLR in the malignant progression of gestational trophoblastic disease. Method: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched for the relevant literature published up to 1 October 2022. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. All analyses were performed using Revman, MetaDisc and STATA software. Results: A total of 858 patients from five studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of NLR were 0.8 (95% CI: 0.71-0.88) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.76), respectively, and the area under curve of the summary receiver operating curve was 0.81. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of PLR were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.75-0.95) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44-0.54), respectively, and the area under curve of the summary receiver operating curve was 0.88. I2 statistic and Deek's funnel plot showed no heterogeneity and publication bias. Conclusion: NLR can accurately predict the progression from hydatidiform mole to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and is a promising biomarker in further follow-up.

Pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers predict survival in endometrial cancer: A Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group 2043 exploratory data analysis

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers are associated with survival outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer (EC).

METHODS

Data from the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group 2043 were analyzed. Patients who did not receive chemotherapy or were lost to follow-up were excluded. Associations of pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The optimal NLR, PLR, and HALP score cutoff values for PFS and OS were determined. Survival estimates were calculated and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

We included 712 patients (median age: 55 [range, 28-74] years; body mass index [BMI]: 21.1 [15.2-38.6] kg/m2). For PFS, optimal NLR, PLR, and HALP score cutoff values were 1.48, 0.017, and 35.52, respectively, and for OS, the values were 1.88, 0.026, and 19.87, respectively. At optimal PFS-related cutoff values, NLR was associated with BMI; PLR with age, BMI, and clinical stage; and HALP score with BMI, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis. At optimal OS-related cutoff values, NLR was associated with BMI, PLR, and BMI; the HALP score was associated with age and BMI. The HALP score was a prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.025), while PLR and HALP scores were prognostic factors for OS (both p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers are associated with survival outcomes in patients with EC, with the HALP score being a prognostic factor for PFS and OS.

Derivation and validation of a nomogram based on clinical characteristics to diagnose endometriosis associated ovarian cancer preoperatively

PURPOSE

The preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) remains challenging for lack of effective diagnostic biomarker. We aimed to study clinical characteristics and develop a nomogram for diagnosing EAOC before surgery.

METHODS

A total of 87 patients with EAOC and 348 patients with ovarian endometrioma (OEM) were enrolled in our study. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and Logistic regression were utilized to select variables and construct the prediction model. The performance of the model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and calibration plots, while decision curve analyses (DCAs) were conducted to assess clinical value. Bootstrap resampling was used to evaluated the stability of the model in the derivation set.

RESULTS

The EAOC patients were older compared to the OEM patients (46.41 ± 9.62 vs. 36.49 ± 8.09 year, P < 0.001) and proportion of postmenopausal women was higher in EAOC group than in the OEM group (34.5 vs. 1.5%, P < 0.001). Our prediction model, which included age at diagnosis, tumor size, cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 and risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA), demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.858 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.795-0.920) in the derivation set (N = 304) and an AUC of 0.870 (95% CI: 0.779-0.961) in the validation set (N = 131). The model fitted both the derivation (Hosmer-Lemeshow test (HL) chi-square = 12.600, P = 0.247) and the validation (HL chi-square = 8.210, P = 0.608) sets well.

CONCLUSION

Compared to patients with OEM, those with EAOC exhibited distinct clinical characteristics. Our four-variable prediction model demonstrated excellent performance in both the derivation and validation sets, suggesting its potential to assist with preoperative diagnosis of EAOC.

Diagnostic roles of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and cancer antigen 125 for ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To compare the diagnostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) level for ovarian cancer (OC).

METHODS

Data of 72 patients with OC, 50 patients with benign ovarian disease, and 46 healthy controls were retrospectively analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The platelet count was higher in patients with a tumor diameter of ≥10 vs. <10 cm. The absolute lymphocyte count was significantly higher in patients with stage I/II OC than in those with multiple and stage III/IV OC. The absolute monocyte count, NLR, MLR, and CA125 were significantly higher in patients with multiple and stage III/IV OC than in those with single and stage I/II OC. The NLR, PLR, MLR, fibrinogen, D-dimer, CRP, and CA125 were useful for distinguishing between the OC and healthy control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis showed that the following combinations have practical diagnostic value in OC: NLR + PLR + MLR + CA125, NLR + PLR + MLR + CA125 + CRP, NLR + MLR +PLR + CA125 + CRP + fibrinogen, and NLR + MLR + PLR + CA125 + CRP + fibrinogen + D-dimer.

The Prognostic Value of Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)-A Retrospective Single Center Study and a Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and pallets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are currently validated as cheap and accessible biomarkers in different types of solid tumors, including head and neck cancers (HNC).

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the possible purposes and biomarker value of NLR, PLR, and MLR recorded pre-treatment (radiotherapy/chemotherapy) in HNC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 190 patients with HNC included in the oncology records in the oncology outpatient clinic of the Craiova County Emergency Hospital (from January 2002 to December 2022), 39 cases met the inclusion criteria (squamous cell carcinoma and the possibility to calculate the pre-treatment (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) value of NLR, PLR, and MLR. Overall survival (OS) values were correlated with NLR, PLR, and MLR.

RESULTS

The median values for NLR, PLR, and MLR were 6.15 (1.24-69), 200.79 (61.3-1775.0), and 0.53 (0.12-5.5), respectively. In the study, the mean values for NLR, PLR, and MLR of 2.88, 142.97, and 0.36, respectively, were obtained. The median OS in the study group was 11 months (1-120). Although a negative Pearson's correlation was present, the relationship between the variables was only weak, with values of R = 0.07, p = 0.67, R = 0.02, p = 0.31, and R = 0.07, p = 0.62 being related to NLR, PLR, and MLR, respectively, in correlation with OS. The median values of NLR, PLR, and MLR were calculated (1.53, 90.32, and 0.18, respectively) for the HNC cases with pre-treatment values of NLR < 2 and for the HNC cases with NLR values ≥ 6 (23.5, 232.78, and 0.79, respectively). The median OS for cases with NLR < 2 and NLR ≥ 6 were 17.4 and 13 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The comparative analysis of the data highlights a benefit to OS for cases low values of NLR. The role of not only borderline NLR values (between 2 and 6) as a prognostic marker in HNSCC but also the inclusion of PLR and MLR in a prognostic score must also be defined in the future. Prospective studies with more uniformly selected inclusion criteria could demonstrate the value of pre-treatment NLR, PLR, and MLR for treatment stratification through the intensification or de-escalation of non-surgical curative treatment in HNSCC.

The Prognosis Predictive Score around Neo Adjuvant Chemotherapy (PPSN) Improves Diagnostic Efficacy in Predicting the Prognosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that pretreatment inflammatory responses can predict prognosis. However, no reports have analyzed the combined effect of the inflammatory response with pre-treatment and post-neo adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). This retrospective study aims to identify factors predicting prognosis and create a novel predictive scoring system.

METHODS

The study was conducted at our institution between June 2006 and March 2020. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected from patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy after sample collection by laparoscopic or laparotomy surgery, followed by interval debulking surgery. We created a scoring system, called the Predictive Prognosis Score around NACT (PPSN), using factors extracted from a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the efficacy of PPSN in predicting progression-free survival and overall survival. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare the PFS or OS rate.

RESULTS

Our study included 72 patients, with a cut-off value of four for the scoring system. Our analysis showed that high PPSN (≥4) significantly predicts poor prognosis. Moreover, CD3+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with low PPSN (<4) showed higher aggregation than those with high PPSN (≥4) cases.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that PPSN could be a useful prognostic tool for advanced EOC patients who undergo NACT followed by IDS.

Platelet and white blood-cell-based ratios: Differential inflammatory markers of severe mental disorders?

INTRODUCTION

Neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and systemic inflammatory index (SII) represent peripheral markers of inflammation associated with different severe mental disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, these parameters were analyzed in a sample of 622 participants [197 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 154 with bipolar disorder (BD), 176 with schizophrenia (SCH), and 95 healthy controls (HC)]. Sociodemographic and clinical data of patients were recorded.

RESULTS

Differences in age and sex were detected among groups (p<0.001), with SCH patients being younger and MDD patients being older. After stratifying by sex, these ratios were compared using the nonparametric ANCOVA (Quade's test) using age as a covariate. In males, no significant statistical differences were found between groups. However, differences were observed in MLR in the subgroup of females [MDD: 0.23 (SD=0.09); BD: 0.23 (SD=0.11); SCH: 0.24 (SD=0.11); HC: 0.29 (SD=0.13); F=5.376, p=0.001]. Post hoc testing revealed that there are MLR differences between HC versus MDD and between HC versus BD, with higher values in HC versus the other two groups. On the other hand, no differences were found in either males or females for any of the studied ratios, among the three diagnostic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MLR is reduced in MDD and BD patients versus HC, but exclusively in the female group. However, based on the analyzed indices, it is not possible to differentiate among the three diagnostic groups of patients. As a limitation of this study, note that the effects of psychopharmacological treatments and smoking have not been controlled for.

Using preoperative control nutritional status scores as prognostic factors for endometrial cancer

Background

Previous investigations have reported that controlling nutritional (CONUT) status scores, incorporating total cholesterol (TC) and serum albumin (SA) values, and total lymphocyte (LY) counts, are reliable malignant tumor predictors. However, CONUT scores for predicting endometrial cancer (EC) remain unexplored.

Objective

To evaluate preoperative CONUT scores as prognostic factors for postoperative EC.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated preoperative CONUT scores in 785 surgically resected EC patients at our hospital between June 2012 and May 2016. Using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, patients were split into: 1) CONUT-high (CH) (≥1) and 2) CONUT-low (CL) (<1) groups. Relationships between CONUT scores and different clinicopathological, pathological differentiation, muscle layer infiltration depth, and prognosis factors were examined, and Cox regression analyses performed to assess prognostic values on overall survival (OS) rates.

Results

We assigned 404 (51.5%) and 381 (58.5%) patients to CH and CL groups, respectively. In the CH group, body mass index (BMI), prognostic nutrition index (PNI), and LY/monocyte ratios (LMR) were decreased, however, neutrophil/LY (NLR) and platelet/LY ratios (PLR) were increased. Pathological differentiation analyses showed that G1 proportions were higher in the CL group, while G2 and G3 proportions were more prevalent in the CH group. Muscle layer infiltration depth in CL patients was < 50%, while that it was ≥50% in the CH group. No significant differences in OS rates were recorded between CH and CL groups over 60 months. However long-term survival (LTS) rates after 60 months in the CH group were significantly lower when compared with the CL group, and was more obvious in type II EC patients. Also, periuterine infiltration and preoperative CONUT scores were independent prognostic factors for OS rates as indicated by multi-factor analyses.

Conclusion

CONUT scores not only facilitated the estimation of nutritional status, but were highly beneficial for predicting OS rates in patients with EC after curative resection. CONUT scores provided high predictive values for LTS rates over 60 months in these patients.

Complete blood count derived inflammatory biomarkers and the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG among cancer survivors receiving COVID-19 vaccines

<b>Background</b>: In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is mandatory to identify vulnerable people with cancers as they have impaired immune system that can lead to high mortality. This study analyzes the complete blood count (CBC) derived inflammatory biomarkers and the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (NAb) and spike protein’s receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G (S-RBD IgG) among cancer survivors.<br /> <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with either solid or hematological cancers who had received two-doses of COVID-19 vaccinations within six months.<br /> <b>Results</b>: From 119 subjects, the COVID-19 vaccines demonstrated laboratory efficacy (median NAb=129.03 AU/mL; median S-RBD IgG=270.53 AU/mL). The seropositive conversion of NAb reached 94.1% and S-RBD IgG reached 93.3%. Additionally, the S-RBD IgG had very weak correlation with absolute monocyte count (R=-0.185; <i>p</i>-value=0.044). The NAb also had very weak correlation with leukocyte (Kendall’s tau-b (τb)=-0.147; <i>p</i>-value=0.019), absolute neutrophil count (τb=-0.126; <i>p</i>-value=0.044), absolute eosinophil count (τb=-0.132; <i>p</i>-value=0.034).<br /> <b>Conclusion</b>: The seropositivity rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG were significantly high. However, the CBC derived inflammatory biomarkers had poor correlation with anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG. Thus, anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG are currently the only reliable markers for measuring the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy which should be widely accessible.

Association between Inflammatory Markers and Local Recurrence in Patients with Giant Cell Tumor of Bone: A Preliminary Result

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) has a high local recurrence rate of approximately 20%. Systemic inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), hemoglobin (Hb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), have been reported as prognostic markers in patients with malignant tumors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between these markers and the local recurrence rate of GCTB. In total, 103 patients with GCTB who underwent surgery at the authors' institutions between 1993 and 2021 were included. Thirty patients experienced local recurrence. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that tumor site, preoperative and postoperative denosumab treatment, and surgery were significantly associated with local recurrence-free survival. LDH was associated with local recurrence-free survival on univariate analysis only. NLR, mGPS, PNI, LMR, and PLR score did not correlate with the local recurrence rate. In conclusion, NLR, mGPS, PNI, LMR, PLR score, Hb, ALP, and LDH levels are not correlated with the local recurrence rate of GCTB. However, due to the small number of patients included in this study, this result should be re-evaluated in a multicenter study with a larger sample size.

The prognosis predictive score around primary debulking surgery (PPSP) improves diagnostic efficacy in predicting the prognosis of ovarian cancer

In recent years, the pretreatment inflammatory responses have proven to predict the prognosis, but no report exists analyzing the combined inflammatory response of the pre- and postsurgical treatment. The current study aims to extract the factors predicting the recurrence and create novel predictive scoring. This retrospective study was conducted at our institution between November 2006 and December 2020, with follow-up until September 2022. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected from women who underwent primary debulking surgery. We created the scoring system named the prognosis predictive score around primary debulking surgery(PPSP) for progression-free survival(PFS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess its efficacy in predicting PFS and overall survival(OS). Cox regression analyses were used to assess its time-dependent efficacy. Kaplan-Meier and the log-rank test were used to compare the survival rate. A total of 235 patients were included in the current study. The cut-off value of the scoring system was six. Multivariate analyses revealed that an advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO) stage (p < 0.001 for PFS; p = 0.038 for OS), the decreased white blood cell count difference (p = 0.026 for PFS) and the high-PPSP (p = 0.004 for PFS; p = 0.002 for OS) were the independent prognostic factors. Cox regression analysis also supported the above results. The PPSP showed good prognostic efficacy not only in predicting the PFS but also OS of ovarian cancer patients comparable to FIGO staging.

The Association between Diabetes Mellitus, High Monocyte/Lymphocyte Ratio, and Survival in Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the factors related to endometrial cancer (EC) prognosis and survival in eastern Taiwan. The study involved 48 patients diagnosed with EC who underwent hysterectomy-based surgery at Hualien Tzu Chi hospital between January 2011 and June 2021. The patients’ medical history and laboratory examination results were reviewed. Progression-free survival and overall survival were determined. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test, and continuous variables were analyzed using the independent t-test. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to predict diagnostic value. Factors associated with cancer mortality were identified via Cox regression analysis (p < 0.05). Patients were divided into the death (n = 7) and survival (n = 41) groups. The median age of the patients was 56 years (range: 31−71 years). The median observation period was 33.29 months. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) > 0.23886 were significantly associated with cancer mortality (p = 0.024 and p = 0.028, respectively). MLR-low and MLR-high groups exhibited 5-year overall survival rates of 96% and 60%, respectively, and 5-year progression-free survival rates of 96% and 41%, respectively. DM and MLR of >0.2386 were suggested to be associated with cancer death, poor overall survival, and progression-free survival.

Are blood parameters assessed before taking frozen sections useful in gynecological oncology?

Background/Aim: Inflammatory processes are often implicated in oncology, and inflammatory markers and indices have been much studied in this context. In gynecological surgery, frozen sections have proven valuable in decision-making. Here we aim to identify laboratory parameters that correlate with frozen section results and thus develop new indices in neoplastic decision-making. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study at Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, we evaluated 139 patients diagnosed with adnexal mass and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. We divided the patients whose frozen sections were reported as malignant, borderline, or benign into three groups and compared the pre-operative complete blood parameters. Results: The mean age of our patients was 57.3 (11.5) years, and frozen section reports were benign in 33 (23.7%), borderline in 43 (30.9%), and malignant in 63 (45.3%) patients. The mean corpuscular volume and mean platelet volume values ​​were different, and this difference was significant between borderline and malignant groups in post-hoc analyses (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). While the percentage of lymphocytes was lower in malignant groups, the percentage of neutrophils was higher (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). According to post-hoc analysis, the percentage of neutrophils differs between benign and malignant groups (P = 0.05). The difference in lymphocyte percentage was significant between benign-borderline and benign-malignant groups (P = 0.02, P = 0.05; respectively). The blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher in the malignant groups compared to the other two groups (P = 0.02). We used the Multi Linear Regression Analysis method to analyze the factors that play a role in predicting the frozen outcome as malignant. Accordingly, the model with the best performance used lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and Ca-125 parameters (P = 0.03). Conclusion: This study indicates that inflammatory markers may give a clue about the character of the neoplastic mass before oncology surgery. Thus, we can make new contributions to the surgical and clinical approach in the literature by developing new malignancy indices.

The Association between a Decrease in On-Treatment Neutrophil-to-Eosinophil Ratio (NER) at Week 6 after Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab Initiation and Improved Clinical Outcomes in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

A lower baseline neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) has been associated with improved responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This study investigated the decrease in NER at week 6 after ipilimumab/nivolumab (ipi/nivo) initiation and treatment responses in mRCC. A retrospective study of ipi/nivo-treated mRCC at two US academic cancer centers was conducted. A landmark analysis at week 6 was performed to assess the association between the change in NER and clinical responses (progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS)). Week 6 NER was modeled as a continuous variable, after log transformation (Ln NER), and a categorical variable by percent change. There were 150 mRCC patients included: 78% had clear cell histology, and 78% were IMDC intermediate/poor risk. In multivariable regression analysis, every decrease of 1 unit of Ln NER at week 6 was associated with improved PFS (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 0.78, p-value:0.005) and OS (AHR: 0.67, p-value: 0.002). When NER was modeled by percent change, decreased NER > 50% was associated with improved PFS (AHR: 0.55, p-value: 0.03) and OS (AHR: 0.37, p-value: 0.02). The decrease in week 6 NER was associated with improved PFS/OS in ipi/nivo-treated mRCC. Prospective studies are warranted to validate NER change as a biomarker to predict ICI responses.

Association of White Blood Cell Subtypes and Derived Ratios with a Mortality Outcome in Adult Patients with Polytrauma

Background. After trauma, the subtypes of white blood cells (WBCs) in circulation and the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) may undergo relative changes and reflect the patients’ immune-inflammatory status and outcome. This retrospective study was designed to investigate the relationship between these variables and the mortality outcomes in adult patients with polytrauma, which is defined as an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score ≥ 3 in two or more different body regions. Methods. A comparison of the expression of subtypes of WBCs, NLR, MLR, and PLR upon arrival to the emergency department was performed in selected propensity score-matched patient cohorts created from 479 adult patients with polytrauma between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for mortality. Results. There were no significant differences in monocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, as well as in MLR, NLR, and PLR, between deceased (n = 118) and surviving (n = 361) patients. In the propensity score-matched patient cohorts, which showed no significant differences in sex, age, comorbidities, and injury severity, deceased patients had significantly higher lymphocyte counts than survivors (2214 ± 1372 vs. 1807 ± 1162 [106/L], respectively, p = 0.036). In addition, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the lymphocyte count (OR, 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.06; p = 0.043) was a significant independent risk factor for mortality in these patients. Conclusions. This study revealed that there was no significant difference in the counts of monocytes, neutrophils, and platelets, as well as in MLR, NLR, and PLR, between deceased and surviving patients with polytrauma. However, a significantly higher lymphocyte count may be associated with a worse mortality.