A propensity-matched analysis of the prognostic value of advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with gastric cancer after curative resection

The prognostic significance of inflammation, immune response and nutritional status in patients with cancer is well-documented. The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has emerged as a novel prognostic indicator, reflecting both inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to assess the prognostic relevance of preoperative ALI in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Data of 459 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC between December 2013 and November 2017 at the Kanagawa Cancer Center (Yokohama, Japan) were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative ALI was calculated from blood tests. Patients were divided into the high- and low-ALI groups. This study investigated the association between preoperative ALI, clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) after propensity-matched analysis. Comparative analysis revealed that patients in the low-ALI group tended to be older, were predominantly female, had lower body mass index and had a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion compared with those in the high-ALI group before propensity-matched analysis. Notably, the low-ALI group exhibited significantly reduced OS and RFS post-gastrectomy (85.5% vs. 93.8%, P=0.01; and 82.1% vs. 91.8%, P=0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified low ALI as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and RFS. In conclusion, preoperative ALI could provide a valuable prognostic tool for patients with GC undergoing curative resection, offering insights into patient survival outcomes based on their inflammatory and nutritional status.