Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Inflammation predisposes patients to tumorigenesis by damaging DNA, stimulating angiogenesis, and potentiating pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic processes. This study investigated whether pre-treatment systemic inflammatory markers (PTSIMs) are associated with survival outcomes in endometrial cancer (EC) patients.
Methods Women with EC were recruited to the JGOG 2043 study. PTSIMs including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score were analysed in terms of clinicopathological factors, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Optimal cut-off values for NLR, PLR, and HALP score were determined using the web application Cutoff Finder for PFS and OS. Survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results In total, 712 patients were enrolled with a median age of 59 years and median body mass index (BMI) of 22.4 kg/m2. The optimal cut-off values for PFS were 1.478 for NLR, 0.01695 for PLR, and 35.52 for HALP score. Similarly, the optimal cut-off values for OS were 1.88 for NLR, 0.02623 for PLR, and 19.87 for HALP score. Regarding the optimal cut-off values for PFS, NLR was associated with BMI; PLR with age, BMI, and stage; and HALP score with BMI, stage, and lymph node metastasis. For the optimal cut-offs for OS, NLR was associated with BMI, PLR, and BMI; and HALP score was associated with age and BMI. In PFS, HALP score was the prognostic factor. In OS, PLR and HALP score were prognostic factors.
Conclusion/Implications PTSIMs are associated with survival outcomes in EC. In particular, HALP score was a prognostic factor for both PFS and OS.