Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated a strong association between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the outcomes of patients with resected hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases. However, the predictive ability of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, especially those treated with preoperative chemotherapy, has been less well described.

Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival, and recurrence free survival of all patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma resected between 2000-2015, were compared between those with elevated (≥3.0) and normal (<3.0) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Results: Among 119 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 64 (53.8%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 and 55 (46.2%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0. Patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 were more likely to be female and have lymph node metastasis (P < .05). Cumulative 5-year overall survival and recurrence free survival rates were 87% and 60%, respectively in patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0, compared with 64% and 39%, respectively in patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 (P = .049 and .038). Among 43 patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy and resection, 21 (48.8%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 and 22 (51.2%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0. In this subgroup, cumulative 5-year overall survival and recurrence free survival rates were 95% and 70%, respectively in the patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 compared with 50% and 26%, respectively in the patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 (P = .002 and P = .004). On multivariate analysis, a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 was associated significantly with worse overall survival among all patients as well as overall survival and recurrence free survival among the subgroup who received preoperative chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated independently with worse survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma undergoing resection or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to resection.