In a nutshell
This study evaluated whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can predict disease recurrence after treatment with prostate surgery. Researchers reported a strong association between high NLR and disease recurrence after prostate surgery.
Some background
Neutrophils are cells that are involved in inflammation (reaction to injury or infection). Lymphocytes are cells involved in the immune response. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be easily calculated from routine blood tests. An elevated NLR has previously been associated with poor clinical outcomes in various malignant tumors. Whether NLR can predict the prostate cancer prognosis after treatment has not been fully studied. Predicting clinical outcomes is useful in determining appropriate treatment strategies early.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to predict disease recurrence in men treated with prostate surgery.
The records of 1,367 men with localized (confined) prostate cancer were analyzed. All men underwent treatment with prostate surgery. Blood tests measured NLR and PSA levels (prostate-specific antigen, an indicator of prostate growth). Men were divided according to high NLR (NLR higher or equal to 2.5) and low NLR (NLR less than 2.5). Clinical outcomes were followed for an average of 57 months.
11.6% of men showed with high NLR levels before surgery. Men with high NLR were more likely to have higher PSA levels, more aggressive cancer cells, and a higher tumor stage. They were also more likely to have locally advanced tumors (protruding into neighboring tissue).
48.1% of men in the high-NLR group showed disease recurrence during the study follow-up. This was significantly higher than 20.4% of men in the low-NLR group. Overall, high NLR was associated with a 36% increased risk of disease recurrence. High NLR was also associated with a higher tumor stage and locally advancing tumor. This was significant even after accounting for factors such as age, PSA, body mass index, and tumor characteristics.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that NLR is a strong predictor of disease recurrence after treatment of localized prostate cancer with prostate surgery.
Published By :
World Journal of Urology
Date :
Oct 08, 2015
