Absolute Granulocyte, Lymphocyte, and Monocyte Counts: Useful Determinants of Prognosis for Patients With Metastatic Cancer of the Stomach

Pretreatment absolute granulocyte ( 1,500/cu mm), and monocyte (300 to 900/cu mm) counts are three independent indicators of good prognosis for patients with metastatic gastric cancer. These tests improve the prediction of survival significantly compared with estimates based on ambulatory status alone. If the patient is completely ambulatory, median survival (MS) is 27.6 weeks, and it improves further to 37.6 weeks if results of two hematology tests indicate a good prognosis. If the patient is partially ambulatory, MS is 16.2 weeks; however, if results of two blood tests indicate a good prognosis, MS is 25.7 weeks, and if two tests indicate a poor prognosis, MS is only 11.1 weeks. The model corrected a false assessment of a poor prognosis for 56% of all patients. ( JAMA 1982;247:1004-1006)