C-Reactive Protein as Predictive Biomarker for Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study

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.

Promises and Challenges of Predictive Blood Biomarkers for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) requires a multimodal approach combining neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery. Predicting tumor response to CRT can guide clinical decision making and improve patient care while avoiding unnecessary toxicity and morbidity. Circulating biomarkers offer both the advantage to be easily accessed and followed over time. In recent years, biomarkers such as proteins, blood cells, or nucleic acids have been investigated for their predictive value in oncology. We conducted a comprehensive literature review with the aim to summarize the status of circulating biomarkers predicting response to CRT in LARC. Forty-nine publications, of which forty-seven full-text articles, one review and one systematic review, were retrieved. These studies evaluated circulating markers (CEA and CA 19-9), inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, albumin, and lymphocytes), hematologic markers (hemoglobin and thrombocytes), lipids and circulating nucleic acids (cell-free DNA [cfDNA], circulating tumor DNA [ctDNA], and microRNA [miRNA]). Post-CRT CEA levels had the most consistent association with tumor response, while cfDNA integrity index, MGMT promoter methylation, ERCC-1, miRNAs, and miRNA-related SNPs were identified as potential predictive markers. Although circulating biomarkers hold great promise, inconsistent results, low statistical power, and low specificity and sensibility prevent them from reliably predicting tumor response following CRT. Validation and standardization of methods and technologies are further required to confirm results.

Derived Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and C-Reactive Protein as Prognostic Factors for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Objectives: To explore the relationship between peripheral blood inflammation parameters and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Patients and methods: In this study, eligible patients treated with SBRT from 2013 to 2018, and both serum complete blood count and blood biochemical results were available prior to (within 60 days) radiotherapy were included. Results: A review of hospital registries identified 148 patients, and the 5-year OS and PFS of the entire cohort were 69.8% and 65.6%, respectively, with the median follow-up time was 52.8 months. Multivariable analysis showed that derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) ≥1.4 and C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥2.9 were statistically and independently associated with worse OS (HR = 4.62, 95% CI 1.89-11.27, p = 0.001; HR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.49-5.70, p = 0.002, respectively). The 5-year OS for patients with dNLR below and equal to or above the 1.4 were 85.3% and 62.9% (p = 0.002), respectively, and 76.7% for the low CRP group versus 58.5% for the high CRP group (p = 0.030). Higher serum level of post-treatment CRP also independent parameters for inferior PFS (HR = 4.83, 95% CI 1.28-18.25, p = 0.020). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that dNLR and CRP are associated with the outcomes of early-stage NSCLC patients treated with SBRT, which may assist in selecting optimal nursing care and therapeutic scheme for every individual.