Initial neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic markers in patients with inoperable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Aim:To determine whether pretreatment of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has a prognostic value in patients with inoperable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.Materials & methods:A total of 167 patients between 2013 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Appropriate cut-off values for initial NLR (3.06) and PLR (168.03) were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. High NLR (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) was related to poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) via univariate analysis. Multivariable analysis showed that NLR can independently influence OS (hazard ratio: 1.570; p = 0.012) and PFS (hazard ratio: 1.471; p = 0.023). PLR did not correlate with OS or PFS.Conclusion:Pretreatment of NLR could independently predict the prognosis of inoperable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients, while pretreatment of PLR does not have prognostic value.