The Prognostic Value of Peripheral Inflammatory Cell Ratios in Patients with Cervical Cancer After Radiotherapy

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the values of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as prognostic biomarkers in patients with cervical cancer.Methods: In total, 172 cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy between January 2014 and December 2017 were retrospectively identified. We calculated the NLR and PLR and determined their cut-off points, known prognostic factors, and the association of these factors with overall survival (OS).Results: The median follow-up period was 59 months (range 1–91 months, 95% confidence interval 53–63 months). The 3- and 5-year OS rates of patients who received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy were 86.7% and 79.7%, respectively, while the 3- and 5-year OS rates of patients who received radical radiotherapy were 70.2% and 61.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified that OS was significantly correlated with tumor diameter, pelvic lymph node status, the NLR and PLR before radiotherapy, past diabetes, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, the purpose of radiotherapy, pathology type, and the OS rate (all P<0.05). On multivariate analysis, the PLR before radiotherapy, past diabetes, FIGO stage, and pathology type were independently associated with OS (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The NLR and PLR before radiotherapy are correlated with the prognosis of cervical cancer. Furthermore, the PLR before radiotherapy is an independent risk factor related to OS.