Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Treated with R-CHOP

Objectives The both values of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were reported as indexes of systemic inflammation and readily available and inexpensive prognostic markers in patients with solid cancer. The objective of this study was to clarify whether the NLR and PLR were significant prognostic markers in Korean diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with R-CHOP as a first line therapy. Methods : We retrospectively collected the clinical data of ninety nine DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP from 2004 to 2012 and analyzed. NLR and PLR were calculated from complete blood count (CBC) and differential leukocyte count. Results : In univariate analysis, NLR was significantly associated with 5-year progression free survival(PFS) rate (P= 0.039), but not significantly associated with 5-year overal survival (OS) rate (P= 0.276). PLR was not significantly associated with 5-year PFS (P= 0.632) and OS rate (P= 0.855). In multivariate analysis, NLR was not a significant independent prognostic factor for 5-year PFS (P= 0.415) and OS rate (P= 0.991). Conclusion : The NLR can be considered a useful predictor of survival outcome. The PLR is not a valid predictor of survival outcome.