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The Baseline Ratio of Neutrophils to Lymphocytes is Associated with Patient Prognosis in Rectal Carcinoma

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Abstract

Objective

In cancer patients, the balance between neutrophil (N) and lymphocyte (L) cell counts fluctuates with advancing disease. The objective of our study was to determine the prognostic implications of the N/L ratio in the peripheral blood of rectal cancer patients.

Methods

Study participants were identified from a prospective cohort of patients with rectal cancer in Dalian of China (n = 123).

Results

The median baseline N/L ratio was 2.41 ± 2.206 (range, 0.76–20.45). Our results revealed that the N/L ratio was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.003) and level of cancer antigen 125 (P = 0.027). A multivariate Cox model established a significant relationship between the N/L ratio and survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.615; 95% confidence interval, 1.152–5.933; P = 0.021).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the N/L ratio is an independent prognostic factor in rectal cancer, and the N/L ratio may serve as a clinically accessible and useful biomarker for patient survival.

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Abbreviations

N/L ratio:

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio

CA125:

Cancer antigen 125

NK:

Natural killer

PSK:

Protein-bound polysaccharide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People’s Republic of China

    Huanran Liu, Ge Liu, Quan Bao, Haidong Bao, Liang Bi, Wei Wen, Yanfeng Liu, Zhenglin Wang, Xunguo Yin, Yunqing Bai & Xiang Hu

  2. Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Sun

Authors
  1. Huanran Liu
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  2. Ge Liu
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  3. Quan Bao
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  4. Wei Sun
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  5. Haidong Bao
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  6. Liang Bi
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  7. Wei Wen
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  8. Yanfeng Liu
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  9. Zhenglin Wang
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  10. Xunguo Yin
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  11. Yunqing Bai
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  12. Xiang Hu
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Correspondence to Huanran Liu.

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Liu, H., Liu, G., Bao, Q. et al. The Baseline Ratio of Neutrophils to Lymphocytes is Associated with Patient Prognosis in Rectal Carcinoma. J Gastrointest Canc 41, 116–120 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-009-9125-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-009-9125-4

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