Correlation between stage of small-cell lung cancer and inflammatory factors

Abstract

Background

Several biochemical markers are associated with the stage of small-cell lung cancer. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio are useful inflammatory markers and related to poor survival. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the disease extent of small-cell lung cancer and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Methods

The study was performed retrospectively in a single South Korean medical center from 2010 to 2016. Of 217 patients pathologically diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer, 157 were included in the analysis. The correlation between disease extent and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was measured by Student’s t test and analysis of variance.

Results

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (limited disease: 2.38 ± 1.53, extensive disease: 3.25 ± 2.20, p = 0.004) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (limited disease: 122.21 ± 63.13, extensive disease: 153.09 ± 98.57, p = 0.026) were highly associated with disease extent. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was associated with advanced TNM stage (stage I: 3.53 ± 3.44, stage II: 2.66 ± 0.95, stage III: 2.34 ± 1.49, stage IV: 3.26 ± 2.22, p = 0.049), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was proportional to the TNM stage but there was no statistical significance (stage I: 111.77 ± 30.76, stage II: 110.71 ± 34.04, stage III: 123.42 ± 64.48, stage IV: 154.68, p = 0.105).

Conclusions

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were increased in advanced stages of small-cell lung cancer, especially when stage was classified into extensive and limited disease. It is necessary to analyze the effect on survival outcome.