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Neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer
Author(s) -
Walsh S.R.,
Cook E.J.,
Goulder F.,
Justin T.A.,
Keeling N.J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.20329
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio , univariate analysis , oncology , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , multivariate analysis , lymphocyte , gastroenterology , paleontology , biology
Background and Objectives Simple methods to identify colorectal cancer patients at risk of recurrence are needed. This study aimed to determine if neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts survival in colorectal cancer patients. Methods Two‐hundred thirty patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer over a two‐year period were identified from a prospectively maintained colorectal cancer database. NLR was calculated from pre‐operative full blood counts. In the case of patients who did not undergo surgery, the full blood count from their out‐patient visit was used. Known prognostic factors were recorded. Overall and cancer‐specific survival were calculated. Results Pre‐operative NLR greater than 5 correlated with overall and cancer‐specific survival in univariate analyses. NLR was not independent of Dukes stage. Conclusions Pre‐operative NLR may represent a simple method of identifying colorectal cancer patients with a poor prognosis pre‐operatively. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005;91:181–184. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.