Evaluation of the prognostic value of platelet to lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma - PubMed (original) (raw)

Evaluation of the prognostic value of platelet to lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Yuchen Wang et al. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasingly common, potentially fatal cancer type globally. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a biomarker for systemic inflammation has recently been recognized as a valuable prognostic marker in multiple cancer types. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of PLR in HCC patients and determine the optimal cut-off value for risk stratification.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with diagnosis of HCC (screened by ICD-9 code, confirmed with radiographic examination and/or biopsy) at a large public hospital during 15 years (Jan 2000 through July 2015). PLR, among other serology laboratory values were collected at diagnosis of HCC. Its association with overall survival was evaluated with Cox proportional hazard model.

Results: Among 270 patients with HCC, 57 (21.1%) patients died within an average follow-up of 11.9 months. PLR at diagnosis was significantly different between survivors and deceased (128.9 vs. 186.7; P=0.003). In multivariate analysis, aspartate transaminase (AST) (HR 2.022, P<0.001) and PLR (HR 1.768, P=0.004) independently predicted mortality. The optimal cut-off value for PLR was determined to be 220 by receiver-operating characteristics curve, and high PLR group had significantly higher mortality (HR 3.42, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Our results indicated that elevated PLR at diagnosis above 220 predicted poor prognosis in HCC patients. PLR is a low-cost and convenient tool, which may serve as a useful prognostic marker for HCC.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Bar graph of platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in alive and deceased group.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Receiver-operating characteristics curve of platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for prediction of mortality.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrating survival of different platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) groups.

References

    1. Jemal A, Bray F, Center MM, et al. Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 2011;61:69-90. 10.3322/caac.20107 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Okuda K. Epidemiology of primary liver cancer. In: Tobe T, Kameda H, Okudaira M, et al. editors. Primary Liver Cancer in Japan. Springer, Tokyo, 1992:3-15.
    1. Bosch FX, Munoz N. Hepatocellular carcinoma in the world: Epidemiologic questions. In: Tabor E, DiBisceglie AM, Purcell RH, editors. Etiology, Pathology and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in America. Advances in Applied Technology Series, Gulf, Houston, 1991:35.
    1. Bosetti C, Levi F, Boffetta P, et al. Trends in mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma in Europe, 1980-2004. Hepatology 2008;48:137-45. 10.1002/hep.22312 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ryerson AB, Eheman CR, Altekruse SF, et al. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2012, featuring the increasing incidence of liver cancer. Cancer 2016;122:1312-37. 10.1002/cncr.29936 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources