Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of oncologic outcomes in stage IVB, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer patients treated by chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer patients with stage IVB, persistent, or recurrent disease after complete primary treatment are usually treated with systemic chemotherapy. Circulating blood components have been a target of study relative to their ability to predict cancer outcomes; however, no previous study has focused on patients with advanced, persistent, or recurrent cervical carcinoma who were treated by chemotherapy, which adversely affects hematopoietic and immune activity. The predictive value of complete blood cell differential counts in patients with stage IVB, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer treated by chemotherapy, may be able to triage these patients. METHODS: This retrospective chart review was conducted in cervical cancer patients with stage IVB disease, persistent disease, or recurrent disease who were treated by chemotherapy during January 2006 to January 2017 were reviewed. Follow-up data were collected through July 2017. RESULTS: A total of 355 cervical carcinoma patients were included. Of those, 63 patients received chemotherapy as primary treatment, and 292 patients received chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent disease. Mean age was 52.5 ± 10.3 years, median age was 51.9 years (IQR: 45.0–59.7), and mean BMI was 23.3 ± 4.9 kg/m(2). Overall response rate was 37.5%, with a median progression free survival (PFS) of 5.7 months, and with a median overall survival (OS) of 38.1 months. Multivariate analysis revealed elevated platelet count (> 400,000/mm(3)), squamous cell carcinoma subtype, and distant metastasis to be associated with poorer PFS. Elevated neutrophil count (> 7000/mm(3)), elevated platelet count (> 400,000/mm(3)), squamous cell carcinoma subtype, and distant metastasis were found to be associated with poorer OS. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥ 3.6 was the most valuable predictor of poor oncologic outcome relative to overall response rate (odds ratio = 1.642, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.048–2.572, P = 0.030), PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.676, 95% CI: 1.334–2.107, P < 0.001), and OS (HR = 2.544, 95% CI: 1.672–3.870, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥ 3.6 was identified as an independent predictor of poor oncologic outcome relative to overall response rate, PFS and OS.