Lymphocyte C-reactive protein ratio: A new biomarker to predict early complications after gastrointestinal oncologic surgery

BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) has been used as a post-surgical prognostic biomarker in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer. However, its relationship with early postoperative complications in these patients is unknown. In this study, we aimed to reveal the relationship between LCR and postoperative complications. METHODS: Eighty-one patients operated for stomach and colorectal cancer between January 2020 and August 2020 were prospectively analyzed. On preoperative and postoperative days 1, 3 and 5, other inflammatory parameters, mainly LCR, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups according to Clavien-Dindo classification as stage III and higher complications major, stage I-II/non-complication minor. RESULTS: Fifty seven patients were operated for colorectal cancer, 24 patients for gastric cancer. The mean age of the patients was 65.6 +/- 12.6, 34.6% of them was women. Age, operation time and hospital stay were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.004, p = 0.002, p < 0.001). Major complications developed in 18 patients. On postoperative day 5, LCR found superior diagnostic accuracy in predicting major postoperative complications compared to other inflammatory markers. On the postoperative 5th day, the cut-off value of LCR was 0.0034, 88.8% (71.9-94.8) sensitivity, and 85.7% (73.6-95.4) selectivity. CONCLUSION: Among different inflammatory markers, postoperative LCR is a safe and effective predictor of postoperative complications, especially after gastric and colorectal cancer surgery on day 5.