The Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Platelet-to-Lymphocyte and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in Patients Operated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic significance of PLR and NLR ratios in patients operated due to non-small cell lung cancer. Material The study group consisted of 532 (174 women, 358 men) patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staged IA-IIIA. The mean age was 63.6 years (range 36 to 84 years). Together with platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the following factors were included in the statistical analysis: age, sex, smoking history, the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets, histopathology, T-stage, N-stage, concomitant diseases according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), type of operation, adjuvant chemotherapy, and overall survival. Results Univariate analysis showed an association between the value of PLR and NLR and the length of survival. Multivariate analysis found that the stage of advancement of the neoplastic disease (p=0.00003), adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.009), CCI > 4 (0.00008), and PLR > 144 (p=0.001) were negative prognostic factors for survival > 2 years; however, this effect diminishes in patients surviving more than 5 years. Conclusion PLR might serve as a prognostic factor in patients affected by NSCLC with expected two-year overall survival.