The elevated NLR, PLR and PLT may predict the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recently, several studies have reported that inflammatory response and elevated platelet counts may be associated with the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. This meta-analysis was designed to analyze and evaluate the prognostic role of elevated preoperative or pretreatment neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio or platelet counts in patients with colorectal cancer. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to April, 2016. A total of 23 studies (N = 11762 participants) were included for this meta-analysis. Elevated neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio have a close relationship with the poor Overall Survival of colorectal cancer with the pooled HR being 1.92 [95% CI 1.57–2.34; P < 0.00001]. This meta-analysis indicated that elevated neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio or platelet counts may be a cost-effective and noninvasive serum biomarker for poor prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.