肿瘤防治研究  2017, Vol. 44 Issue (12): 811-815
本刊由国家卫生和计划生育委员会主管,湖北省卫生厅、中国抗癌协会、湖北省肿瘤医院主办。
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文章信息

术前血小板与淋巴细胞比值和中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对食管癌预后的预测价值
Preoperative Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Prognosis of Esophageal Cancer Patients
肿瘤防治研究, 2017, 44(12): 811-815
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment, 2017, 44(12): 811-815
http://www.zlfzyj.com/CN/10.3971/j.issn.1000-8578.2017.17.0547
收稿日期: 2017-05-16
修回日期: 2017-08-29
术前血小板与淋巴细胞比值和中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对食管癌预后的预测价值
张思思1,2, 袁耒2     
1. 121000 锦州,锦州医科大学研究生院;
2. 250031 济南,济南军区总医院胸外科
摘要: 目的 探讨术前外周血血小板与淋巴细胞比值(PLR)和中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)对食管癌患者预后的预测价值。方法 回顾性分析137例行食管癌根治切除术治疗的患者的临床资料。按术前PLR<120及≥120、NLR<2.0及≥2.0分组,采用Kaplan-Meier曲线法进行生存分析,比较5年无病生存率和总生存率。采用Cox多因素分析确定影响预后的独立因素。结果 高PLR组的5年总生存率30.9%和无病生存率30.9%分别低于低PLR组的50.7%和47.8%(P=0.017, P=0.033)。同样,高NLR组的5年总生存率29.0%和无病生存率29.0%显著低于低NLR组的52.9%和50.0%(P=0.003, P=0.006)。多因素分析显示,分化程度、临床分期和NLR是影响食管癌患者预后的独立因素(均P<0.05)。结论 PLR和NLR可以预测食管癌患者的预后,NLR还可作为影响患者预后的独立因素。
关键词: 食管癌     血小板与淋巴细胞比值     中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值     无病生存率     总生存率    
Preoperative Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Prognosis of Esophageal Cancer Patients
ZHANG Sisi1,2, YUAN Lei2     
1. Graduate School, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121000, China;
2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ji'nan Military General Hospital, Ji'nan 250031, China
Corresponding author: YUAN Lei, E-mail: m13853160155@163.com.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) collected from peripheral blood of esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Methods The clinical data of 137 patients who underwent esophagectomy from January 2010 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. According to preoperative PLR and NLR, the patients were divided into low PLR group (PLR < 120) and high PLR group (PLR≥120) or low NLR group (PLR < 120) and high PLR group (PLR≥120). Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic significance of both markers was then determined by both univariate and multivariate analytical methods. Results The high PLR group had a much lower 5-year OS compared with the low PLR group (30.9% vs. 50.7%, P=0.017) as well as DFS (30.9% vs. 47.8%, P=0.033). The high NLR group had a much lower 5-year OS compared with the low NLR group (29.0% vs. 52.9%, P=0003) as well as DFS (29.0% vs. 50.0%, P=0.006). Multivariate analysis revealed that the differentiation, clinical stage and NLR were identified as independent risk factors for poor prognosis of EC patients. Conclusion PLR and NLR might predict the prognosis of EC patients. NLR could be an independent predictive factor for EC.
Key words: Esophageal cancer     Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio     Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio     Disease free survival     Overall survival    
0 引言

目前,食管癌(esophageal cancer, EC)是世界第八的恶性肿瘤,发病率在我国排第四位[1-3]。其恶性程度高,预后较差,总体五年生存率不超过15%[4],严重危害国民健康。我国食管癌的治疗以手术及放化疗为主,其预后评估主要参照临床、病理分期。近年来,恶性肿瘤相关炎性反应成为研究热点,其中中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, NLR)和血小板与淋巴细胞比值(platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, PLR)对肺癌、结直肠癌等恶性肿瘤[5-10]的预后评价起着重要作用,而在国内尚未见其在食管癌中的相关研究。本研究旨在分析术前NLR和PLR与食管癌预后的关系,探讨其预测价值。

1 资料与方法 1.1 临床资料

收集济南军区总医院胸外科2010年1月—2011年12月行食管癌根治切除术患者的临床资料,入选标准:(1)组织病理学证实为食管癌;(2)入院前两周至手术日无急、慢性感染,无心脏病、类风湿、糖尿病等疾病;(3)术前未行放疗、化疗等抗肿瘤治疗;(4)无严重肝肾功能损害,自身免疫性疾病,血栓及出血性疾病。按照上述标准,剔除失访及非肿瘤原因死亡的患者,共有137例具有完整随访资料的患者纳入研究,其中男107例,女30例,平均年龄(59.27±7.66)岁。126例患者术后参照NCCN指南辅以4~6周期铂类为基础的化疗,23例行术后放疗。按UICC第七版分期,Ⅰ期14例,Ⅱ期52例,Ⅲ期68例,Ⅳ期3例。鳞癌132例,其他类型(腺癌、腺鳞癌、小细胞癌)5例。所有患者均于术前一周内采集空腹静脉血,检测白细胞、中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞、血小板。PLR=血小板计数/淋巴细胞计数。NLR=中性粒细胞计数/淋巴细胞计数。

1.2 随访

所有患者从术后开始采用电话或门诊方式随访,根据病情行CT或胃镜等检查。随访日期截至2016年12月30日。计算无病生存率(disease free survival, DFS)和总生存率(overall survival, OS)。

1.3 统计学方法

采用SPSS17.0统计学软件进行数据处理。应用χ2检验和Fisher精确检验比较分类变量,应用t检验比较正态分布的计量资料。采用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析并行Log rank检验;用Cox进行多因素分析确定影响预后的独立因素。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。

2 结果 2.1 不同PLR和NLR组的临床病理特征比较

PLR和NLR分别以中位数120、2.0为截取值,分为低PLR组(<120)、高PLR组(≥120)、低NLR组(<2.0)和高NLR组(≥2.0)[11-12]。不同PLR组在临床分期、术前淋巴细胞及血小板计数方面差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),见表 12。不同NLR组在术前白细胞、淋巴细胞及中性粒细胞计数方面差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),见表 2

表 1 食管癌患者不同PLR和NLR组的临床病理特征比较(n(%)) Table 1 Comparison of clinicopathological factors between esophageal cancer patients with different PLR and NLR (n(%))

表 2 食管癌患者术前外周血血常规参数和PLR与NLR的关系 Table 2 Comparison of preoperative peripheral blood parameters between esophageal cancer patients with different PLR and NLR
2.2 不同PNL和NLR组的生存分析

137例患者中位随访时间为37月,共有81例发生研究终点事件,其中高PLR组的68例患者中有47例,低PLR组的69例患者中有34例。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示,高PLR组的5年OS为30.9%显著低于低PLR组的50.7%(P=0.017),见图 1A。高、低PLR组的5年DFS分别为30.9%和47.8%(P=0.033),见图 1B。与低PLR组相比,高PLR组患者的中位DFS(20月 vs. 53月)和OS(30月 vs. 61月)均显著缩短。

A: χ2=5.747, P=0.017; B: χ2=4.540, P=0.033; C: χ2=8.968, P=0.003; D: χ2=7.562, P=0.006 图 1 食管癌患者不同PLR和NLR分组的生存曲线 Figure 1 Cumulative OS or DFS curves of esophageal cancer patients with different PLR and NLR

高NLR组的69例患者中有49例发生研究终点事件,低NLR组的68例患者中有32例发生研究终点事件。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示高NLR组的5年OS为29.0%显著低于低NLR组的52.9%(P=0.003),见图 1C。高NLR组的患者和低NLR组的患者5年DFS分别为29.0%和50.0%(P=0.006),见图 1D。与低NLR组相比,高NLR组患者的中位FDS(18月 vs. 58月)和OS(31月 vs. 61月)均显著缩短。

2.3 食管癌预后相关因素的Cox分析

单因素分析显示,临床分期、分化程度、PLR和NLR与食管癌的DFS和OS差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),见表 3。对以上因素进行多因素分析显示,临床分期、分化程度和NLR与患者的DFS显著相关(P<0.05),同时分化程度和NLR与OS也显著相关(P<0.05),见表 4

表 3 影响食管癌患者生存预后的单因素分析 Table 3 Univariate analysis of clinical factors for prognosis of esophageal cancer patients

表 4 影响食管癌患者生存预后的多因素Cox回归分析 Table 4 Multivariate Cox regression analysis of clinical parameters for prognosis of esophageal cancer patients
3 讨论

自Vichow等首次提出癌症和炎性反应相关性的假说以来[13],已有大量研究证实这一理论,并被认为与肿瘤的预后有紧密关系。炎性反应微环境可介导一系列免疫应答反应及免疫细胞浸润,在肿瘤的生长发展中起到重要作用[14-15]。本研究中,相比低NLR组和高NLR组的白细胞、中性粒细胞升高和淋巴细胞计数降低的差异十分明显,证实了肿瘤患者已发生炎性反应,并出现免疫功能的改变。且高NLR组术后5年DFS和OS显著降低(P<0.05),多因素分析提示NLR可作为食管癌预后的独立影响指标(RR=0.556, 95%CI: 0.330~0.937, P=0.027),与相关研究结论一致[16]

在肺癌、结直肠癌等恶性肿瘤中均发现NLR与肿瘤患者预后有关,较高的NLR往往意味着较差的预后[5-10]。NLR的升高与中性粒细胞数量的增多或淋巴细胞的减少紧密相关。循环中的中性粒细胞可以分泌VEGF,导致肿瘤患者机体高水平的VEGF,而且释放的弹性蛋白酶会损伤组织,使机体免疫球蛋白和补体降解,降低机体清除致癌物的能力,促进肿瘤生长[17]。另外,中性粒细胞诱导的杀菌网络还可隔离循环系统中的肿瘤细胞,利于肿瘤转移。肿瘤微环境还能分泌中性粒细胞的趋化因子、细胞因子IL-1,明显延长中性粒细胞的寿命[18]。由于淋巴细胞是机体抗肿瘤免疫的主要成员,当淋巴细胞减少时机体抗肿瘤免疫功能降低,进而影响肿瘤患者的预后。同时,免疫系统不能识别和应答肿瘤抗原的突变,促使肿瘤细胞逃逸,从而形成适合肿瘤细胞增殖和转移的环境。有报道证明,肿瘤基质的淋巴细胞减少将有助于肿瘤细胞生长及转移,与患者不良预后有关[19]

PLR作为一种炎性反应检测指标,被证实和多种肿瘤的预后生存相关,如胰腺癌、结直肠癌、卵巢癌及鼻咽癌[20-24]。癌症患者不但血小板数量明显增多[25],而且更多活化的血小板促进了瘤细胞的扩散,增加肿瘤转移的潜在风险[26]。Xie等[27]对食管鳞癌患者分组分析发现PLR是早期EC患者(Ⅰ、Ⅱ期)的独立预后因素,而对于分期较晚的患者无明显意义。Jung等[28]通过分析食管鳞癌手术患者资料,认为PLR与其预后没有关联。本研究中,虽未发现PLR是食管癌患者的独立预后因素,但其仍与OS和DFS有关(P<0.05)。而Feng等[16]对食管鳞癌患者研究后得出的结论是作为预测指标PLR更优于NLR。因此,PLR是否可作为肿瘤的预测指标还需进一步研究。

本研究未将失访的患者纳入研究范畴,可能会对研究结果发生偏倚。通过分析NLR和PLR与食管癌的关系,发现二者都与预后有关,而NLR和临床分期、分化程度一样都可作为食管癌预后的独立影响因素。在临床上,血常规是一项简便常用的检测项目,对患者进行PLR、NLR评价,既能指导预后判断,又不影响患者健康,值得推广应用。

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