Open AccessThe Ratio of the Absolute Lymphocyte Count to the Absolute Monocyte Count Is Associated with Prognosis in Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Correlation with Tumor‐Associated Macrophages
Author(s) -
Koh Young Wha,
Kang Hyo Jeong,
Park Chansik,
Yoon Dok Hyun,
Kim Shin,
Suh Cheolwon,
Go Heounjeong,
Kim Ji Eun,
Kim ChulWoo,
Huh Jooryung
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0034
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoma , monocyte , lymphocyte , absolute neutrophil count , absolute (philosophy) , correlation , immunology , pathology , chemotherapy , neutropenia , geometry , mathematics , philosophy , epistemology
Background. Although most patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) have a long survival duration, the current risk stratification is imperfect. A recent study suggested a prognostic role for the peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count (ALC/AMC) ratio at diagnosis in cHL. It is intriguing to investigate the significance of the ALC/AMC ratio in relation to tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), yet another prognostic factor for cHL. Methods. We examined the prognostic impact of the ALC, AMC, and ALC/AMC ratio in 312 cHL patients (median age, 37 years) using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for optimal cutoff values, and compared these with TAM content. Results. The median follow‐up was 65 months (range, 0.1–245 months). On univariate analysis, a low ALC/AMC ratio (<2.9) was correlated with a poorer overall survival (OS) outcome. A subgroup analysis of patients with limited‐stage disease showed that the ALC/AMC ratio was significantly correlated with the OS time. Multivariate analysis showed the ALC/AMC ratio to be an independent prognostic factor for OS outcome. A Spearman correlation test of TAM content showed a negative correlation with the ALC/AMC ratio and a positive correlation with the peripheral blood macrophage percentage. Conclusions. This study suggests that the ALC/AMC ratio may be a simple, inexpensive, and independent prognostic factor for OS outcome in patients with cHL and may have a role in the stratification of cHL patients in addition to the International Prognostic Score and TAM content.