The Combination of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Level as a Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: We retrospectively investigated the relationship between prognosis and combined neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Patients and methods: We enrolled 66 patients whose pancreatic cancer recurred.

Results: Based on ROC analysis results, the patients were divided into NLR^High (NLR ≥1.69) or NLR^Low (NLR <1.69), and into CA19-9^High (CA19-9 ≥107.95 U/ml) or CA19-9^Low (CA19-9 <107.95 U/ml). When the patients were grouped by combined NLR and CA19-9, their 2-year survival rates were NLR^Low/CA19-9^Low: 58.7%; NLR^Low/CA19-9^High or NLR^High/CA19-9^Low (grouped together): 11.2%; and NLR^High/CA19-9^High: 0% (p<0.0001). Finally, in multivariate analysis, the combination of NLR and serum CA19-9 level was an independent prognostic factor in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion: The combination of NLR and serum CA19-9 level is a useful prognostic indicator for recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: Recurrent pancreatic cancer; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; prognosis.