Diagnostic value of hematological parameters platelet to lymphocyte ratio and hemoglobin to platelet ratio in patients with colon cancer

Objective: This study was designed to retrospectively analyze the value of the hematological parameter platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and hemoglobin to platelet ratio (HPR) in patients with colon cancer. Methods: The hematological parameters and clinical data of 354 cases patients with colon cancer, 108 cases patients with benign colon tumors and 123 healthy controls were collected from our hospital electronic medical records. Results: Compared with the colon benign tumor group and the healthy control group, the colon cancer group had an increased PLR value and a decreased HPR value. The correlation between the clinicopathological features and the laboratory parameters of colon cancer patients was analyzed, and the results showed that both PLR and HPR were associated with tumor invasion and tumor size. Compared with PLR (AUC = 0.725, 95%CI: 0.682-0.765), HPR (AUC = 0.752, 95%CI: 0.710-0.790) or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (AUC = 0.710, 95%CI: 0.666-0.751) used alone, the combination with PLR and CEA (AUC = 0.790, 95%CI: 0.750-0.826) or with HPR and CEA (AUC = 0.814, 95%CI: 0.775-0.848) can improve specificity and produce greater AUC in differentiating colon cancer from benign colon cancer. Conclusion: Combined application of PLR, HPR, and CEA may improve the diagnostic efficacy of distinguishing between colon cancer and benign colon tumors.