Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy.Methods: The medical records of 48 patients with CRPC were reviewed. These patients were diagnosed and underwent docetaxel-based chemotherapy in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between January 2008 and January 2012. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the clinical and prognosis value of NLR.Results: Of 48 patients with CRPC, 24 patients was in high NLR group (NLR > 3), 24 in low NLR group (NLR ≤ 3). TNM staging and visceral metastases were significantly different between two groups (both P < 0.05). The median survival time of high NLR group and low NLR group were 11 and 25 months, respectively (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that NLR before chemothrapy, TNM stage, Gleason score at diagnosis, baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score, visceral metastases, number of chemotherapy cycles, and PSA efficacy were associated with poor overall survival of patients with CRPC (all P < 0.05). COX multivariate analysis showed that  NLR before chemothrapy, visceral metastases, number of chemotherapy cycles, and PSA efficacy were independent risk factors of overall survival of patients with CRPC (all P < 0.05).Conclusion: NLR is an independent risk factor for prognosis of CRPC patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy and can be used as an effective indicator to assess the prognosis of CRPC patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2015.33.707