The Prognostic Value Of Systemic Inflammation-related Markers In Esophageal Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy

Background and objective:Currently,it has been reported that systemic inflammation-related markers can predict prognosis of esophageal cancer patients receiving operation,such as neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet lymphocyte ratio(PLR),and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio(LMR).However,it remains unclear the relationship between NLR,PLR.LMR and prognosis of esophageal cancer patients who receive radiotherapy.Our aim is to explore the role of systemic inflammation-related markers in predicting prognosis in esophageal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.Material and methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients who underwent radiotherapy of esophageal cancer in Radiotherapy Department,Qilu hospital of Shandong university between 2009 and 2014.Baseline characteristics hematologic test reports prior to radiotherapy and CT reportswere collected.NLR was calculated by dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count.PLR was defined as the absolute platelet count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count.LMR was calculated by dividing the absolute lymphocyte count by the absolute monocytecount.NLR was divided into two groups(?2 vs.<2).PLR was divided into two groups(?150 vs.<150).LMR was divided into two groups(?3.57 vs.<3.57).Chi-square test was performed to analyze the relationship between systemic inflammation-related markers and baseline characteristics.Survival curve(progression free survival,PFS)was constructed using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.Univariate analysis was conducted by Cox regression model.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 23 software.p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results:A total of 86 patients were enrolled in the final analysis,including 75 male patients and 11 female patients.The median age was 63 years.The median follow-up was 11 months(1-68 months).The median PFS was 11 months.Chi-square test demonstrated statistic difference of age in PLR subgroup and gender in LMR subgroup.The median PFS for NLR groups was 10(high NLR group)and 12 months(low NLR group),respectively(log-rank p=0.048).The median PFS for PLR groups was 10(high PLR group)and 14.5 months(low PLR group),respectively(log-rank p>0.05).The median PFS for LMR groups was 10(high LMR group)and 11 months(low LMR group),respectively(log-rank p>0.05).Hazard ration(HR)calculated by Coxregression model was 0.56,0.65,1.15 for NLR,PLR,LMR groups,respectively.Conclusion:PLR and LMR cannot be used to predict PFS of esophageal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.Higher NLR predicts worse PFS of esophageal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy,but the prediction efficacy is no robust.