TY - JOUR
T1 - Prognostic role of platelet to lymphocyte ratio in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Templeton, AJ
AU - Ace, O
AU - Mcnamara, Mairead
AU - Al-Mubarak, M
AU - Vera-Badillo, FE
AU - Hermanns, T
AU - Seruga, B
AU - Ocana, A
AU - Tannock, IF
AU - Eitan, Amir
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - BACKGROUND: Inflammation influences cancer development and progression. An elevated platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), a marker of inflammation, has been linked to poor prognosis in several malignancies. Here, we quantify the prognostic impact of this biomarker. METHODS: A systematic review of databases was conducted to identify publications exploring the association of blood PLR and overall survival (OS) in solid tumors. Data were pooled in a meta-analysis. Pooled HRs for OS by disease group and by PLR cutoff groups were computed and weighted using generic inverse-variance and random-effect modeling. RESULTS: Twenty studies comprising 12,754 patients were assessed. Cutoffs for PLR defining risk groups ranged from 150 to 300 and were dichotomous (12 studies; group 1) or split into three groups (300, 8 studies; group 2). Higher PLR was associated with significantly worse OS in group 1 [HR = 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI, 1.49-2.34); P <0.001] and with a nonsignificant association in group 2 (HR per higher category = 1.21; 95%CI, 0.97-1.50; P = 0.10). The size of effect of PLR on OS was greater for metastatic disease (HR[group 1] = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.7; HR[group 2] = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4) than for early-stage disease (HR[group 1] = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2; HR[group 2] = 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8-1.3). A significant association was observed for colorectal, hepatocellular, gastroesophageal, ovarian, and pancreatic carcinoma in group 1 and for colorectal cancers in group 2. CONCLUSION: A high PLR is associated with worse OS in various solid tumors. Further research of its regulation and relevance in daily practice is warranted. IMPACT: PLR is a readily available and inexpensive biomarker with independent prognostic value in solid tumors.
AB - BACKGROUND: Inflammation influences cancer development and progression. An elevated platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), a marker of inflammation, has been linked to poor prognosis in several malignancies. Here, we quantify the prognostic impact of this biomarker. METHODS: A systematic review of databases was conducted to identify publications exploring the association of blood PLR and overall survival (OS) in solid tumors. Data were pooled in a meta-analysis. Pooled HRs for OS by disease group and by PLR cutoff groups were computed and weighted using generic inverse-variance and random-effect modeling. RESULTS: Twenty studies comprising 12,754 patients were assessed. Cutoffs for PLR defining risk groups ranged from 150 to 300 and were dichotomous (12 studies; group 1) or split into three groups (300, 8 studies; group 2). Higher PLR was associated with significantly worse OS in group 1 [HR = 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI, 1.49-2.34); P <0.001] and with a nonsignificant association in group 2 (HR per higher category = 1.21; 95%CI, 0.97-1.50; P = 0.10). The size of effect of PLR on OS was greater for metastatic disease (HR[group 1] = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.7; HR[group 2] = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4) than for early-stage disease (HR[group 1] = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2; HR[group 2] = 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8-1.3). A significant association was observed for colorectal, hepatocellular, gastroesophageal, ovarian, and pancreatic carcinoma in group 1 and for colorectal cancers in group 2. CONCLUSION: A high PLR is associated with worse OS in various solid tumors. Further research of its regulation and relevance in daily practice is warranted. IMPACT: PLR is a readily available and inexpensive biomarker with independent prognostic value in solid tumors.
U2 - 10.1158/1055-9965
DO - 10.1158/1055-9965
M3 - Article
SN - 1055-9965
VL - 23
SP - 1204
EP - 1212
JO - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
JF - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
ER -
