Low cardiac dose and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predict overall survival in inoperable esophageal squamous cell cancer patients after chemoradiotherapy

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 23;11(1):6644. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86019-2.

Abstract

We aimed to determine the prognostic significance of cardiac dose and hematological immunity parameters in esophageal cancer patients after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). During 2010-2015, we identified 101 newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell cancer patients who had completed definitive CCRT. Patients' clinical, dosimetric, and hematological data, including absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), at baseline, during, and post-CCRT were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards were calculated to identify potential risk factors for overall survival (OS). Median OS was 13 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.38-15.63). Univariate analysis revealed that male sex, poor performance status, advanced nodal stage, higher percentage of heart receiving 10 Gy (heart V10), and higher NLR (baseline and follow-up) were significantly associated with worse OS. In multivariate analysis, performance status (ECOG 0 & 1 vs. 2; hazard ratio [HR] 3.12, 95% CI 1.30-7.48), heart V10 (> 84% vs. ≤ 84%; HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.26-3.95), baseline NLR (> 3.56 vs. ≤ 3.56; HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.39-4.00), and follow-up NLR (> 7.4 vs. ≤ 7.4; HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.41) correlated with worse OS. Volume of low cardiac dose and NLR (baseline and follow-up) were associated with worse patient survival.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / blood*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Female
  • Heart / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Leukocyte Count*
  • Lymphocyte Count*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models

Substances

  • Biomarkers