The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio is a Prognostic Biomarker in An Ethnically Diverse Patient Population with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Michael Shusterman, Erin Jou, Andreas Kaubisch, Jennifer W. Chuy, Lakshmi Rajdev, Santiago Aparo, Justin Tang, Nitin Ohri, Abdissa Negassa, Sanjay Goel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with decreased overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) in studies including few minority patients. We investigated the association between NLR and survival in patients with advanced PAC in an ethnically diverse population. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 226 patients with advanced PAC treated at Montefiore Medical Center between 2006 and 2015. Adjusted Cox proportion hazard regression models were utilized to derive effect estimates for survival duration. Results: Patients with a NLR ≤ 5 (126 patients, median age 66 years) were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black (30.8% vs. 20%), while patients with a NLR > 5 (70 patients, median age 66 years) were more likely to be non-Hispanic White (21.4% vs. 12.2%) or Hispanic (44.3% vs. 34%). A NLR > 5 compared with a NLR ≤ 5 was significantly associated with a worse overall survival when adjusted for a priori and exploratory variables from the univariate analysis (median survival 7.4 vs. 12 months, HR 1.650, 95% CI 1.139, 2.390). Conclusions: In an ethnically diverse population, elevated NLR is an independent marker of poor prognosis and a potentially valuable factor in driving therapeutic decisions and defining prognosis for patients in the locally advanced or metastatic for PAC setting, meriting investigation in prospective clinical trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)868-876
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Keywords

  • Chemotherapy
  • Healthcare disparities
  • Inflammation
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prognostic factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology

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