Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Is a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Locally Advanced (Stage IIIA and IIIB) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Combined Modality Therapy

Abstract

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio measured at the time of diagnosis was associated with improved overall survival in 276 patients with stage IIIA and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery. To our knowledge, our series is the largest to demonstrate that baseline neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a significant prognostic indicator in locally advanced NSCLC patients who received definitive chemoradiation with or without surgery. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is an inexpensive biomarker that may be easily utilized by clinicians at the time of locally advanced NSCLC diagnosis to help predict life expectancy.