Identifying the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic markers in patients undergoing resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: It is important to point out that the identification of inflammation is an essential component of the pathogenesis and the progression of cancer. In this study, we analysed the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), with an overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), who were treated with a resection following or not following a procedure of neoadjuvant chemotherapy/chemoradiation. We intended to identify the significance of the role of NLR and PLR, as prognostic markers in patients undergoing surgery for PDAC. METHODS: There were 127 patients enrolled in the study. The NLR and PLR were calculated on the basis of the pre-treatment blood cell count. An NLR>4 and a PLR >120 were considered to be elevated as measured. OS was analysed in relation to the NLR and PLR values, by using both the Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox-regression methods. RESULTS: =0.001) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is noted that the pre-treatment NLR is an independent adverse prognostic factor, and considered to be superior to the PLR, in patients who undergo a resection for PDAC following or not neoadjuvant chemotherapy/chemoradiation.