Preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as an Independent Prognostic Marker for Patients With Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Abstract Background To predict the prognosis, we evaluated the significance of the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUTUC). Patients and Methods A cohort of 137 patients diagnosed with UUTUC from 1994 to 2008 at Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center was enrolled in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results On univariate analysis, pathologic T stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and NLR were significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The RFS rates for an NLR Conclusions The preoperative NLR is an independent prognostic predictor. The model based on the NLR and pathologic factors can be useful in clinical practice.