De Ritis Ratio (Aspartate Transaminase/Alanine Transaminase) as a Significant Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy with Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Study

Introduction. To investigate the correlation between preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT)) and postoperative outcome in patients with urothelial cell carcinoma (UC) treated with radical cystectomy. Materials and Methods. We analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 771 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder UC. Patients were divided into two groups according to the optimal value of AST/ALT ratio. The effect of the AST/ALT ratio was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression hazard models for patients' cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In addition, propensity score matching of 1 : 1 was performed between the two groups. Results. Median follow-up was 84.0 (36-275) months. Mean age was 64.8 +/- 10.0 years. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal threshold of the AST/ALT ratio was 1.1. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, the high AST/ALT group showed worse outcomes in CSS and OS (all P<0.001). Also, RFS (P=0.001) in the Cox regression models of clinical and pathological parameters was used to predict CSS, OS, and AST/ALT ratio (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.23-3.73, P=0.007) and pathological T stage (HR 4.80, 95% CI 1.19-19.28, P=0.003). To predict OS and AST/ALT ratio (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.65-2.56, P<0.001), pathological T stage (HR 2.96, 95% CI 0.57-17.09, P=0.037) and positive lymph node (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.50-1.91, P=0.021) were determined as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion. Preoperative AST/ALT ratio could be an independent prognostic factor in patients with UC treated with radical cystectomy.