Prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancer using three new comprehensive indexes related to infection, anemia and coagulation derived from peripheral blood

Background: Many indicators of peripheral blood in routine blood test (BRT) results of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are related to prognosis. Currently, indexes such as NLR (Neutrophil-to- Lymphocyte Ratio), PLR (Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio) and LMR (Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio) evaluate the survival risk of patients by assessing the inflammatory - immune status of CRCs. These indexes are more comprehensive and accurate than independent estimates. We hope to design more effective indexes through fully considering the correlation and significance between BRT indicators and prognosis, so as to play a guiding role in clinical malignant estimation of CRCs.

Methods: 701 CRCs in training set and 256 CRCs in test set were included in the study samples, and their clinical data, tumor pathology results and peripheral blood routine results were collected. The prognosis, progression, and survival status of all patients were determined after follow-up. Above data were used for statistical analysis and designing new indexes.

Results: It was found that high NE, MONO, RDW-CV/SD and PLT in peripheral blood indicated poor prognosis of DFS and OS. Conversely, CRCs with postoperative tumor progression or death had lower LY, EO, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PDW, and P-LCR. IRR, ARR and CRR related to infection, anemia and coagulation were designed respectively using the largest AUC indicators (P<0.05) selected by ROC curve. The formula: IRR= (NE*MONO)/(LY*EO); ARR= (HGB*MCHC)/RDW-CV; CRR=PLT/PDW. Results of Kaplan‑Meier survival analysis and multivariate COX proportional hazard analysis adjusted for age, gender, TNM stage, infiltration, adhesion showed IRR, ARR, CRR were all able to be used as the evaluation standard of survival of CRC. The result was also authenticated in the test set.

Conclusion: We designed three different prognostic indexes of colorectal cancer, IRR, ARR and CRR, which could be used as risk indicators of CRC prognosis, tumor progression and survival.