Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts prostatic carcinoma in men undergoing needle biopsy

Takashi Kawahara, Sachi Fukui, Kentaro Sakamaki, Yusuke Ito, Hiroki Ito, Naohito Kobayashi, Koji Izumi, Yumiko Yokomizo, Yasuhide Miyoshi, Kazuhide Makiyama, Noboru Nakaigawa, Takeharu Yamanaka, Masahiro Yao, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Hiroji Uemura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple marker of systemic inflammatory response, has been demonstrated as an independent prognosticator for some solid malignancies, including prostate cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the role of NLR in men who underwent prostate needle biopsy for their initial diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Both complete blood counts and free/total (F/T) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio were examined in a total of 3,011 men in our institution. Of these, 1,207 had a PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL, and 357 of 810 who subsequently underwent prostate needle biopsy were found to have prostatic adenocarcinoma. NLR value was significantly higher in men with PSA of ≥ 20 ng/mL than in those with PSA of < 20 ng/mL (p < 0.001). NLR was also significantly higher in men with positive biopsy than in those with negative biopsy (p < 0.001). Using NLR cut-off point of 2.40 determined by the AUROC curve, positive/negative predictive values of NLR alone and NLR combined with F/T PSA ratio (cut-off: 0.15) were 56.6%/60.8% and 80.7%/60.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that not only F/T PSA ratio (HR = 3.13) but also NLR (HR = 2.21) was an independent risk factor for prostate cancer. NLR is thus likely elevated in patients with prostate cancer. Accordingly, NLR, with or without combination with F/T PSA ratio, may function as a new biomarker to predict prostate cancer in men undergoing prostate needle biopsy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)32169-32176
Number of pages8
JournalOncotarget
Volume6
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Biomarker
  • Clinical Section
  • Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
  • Prostate cancer
  • Prostate needle biopsy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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