Description
BACKGROUND
The prognostic role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been explored extensively in the literature. The purpose of this meta analysis was to evaluate the link between NLR and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. A method for detecting the likelihood of preoperative lymph node metastasis has implication for management.
RESULTS
A total of 9 retrospective cohort studies were included for meta-analysis. Elevated NLR is associated with increased lymph node metastasis, with the increased OR being 1.79 (95% CI 1.41-2.27). All of the cohort studies were performed in Asian countries. The single non Asian study (Dutta et al) showed no increase in OR between elevated NLR and lymph node metastasis 0.97 (0.40-2.34).
A total of 9 retrospective cohort studies were included for meta-analysis. Elevated NLR is associated with increased lymph node metastasis, with the increased OR being 1.79 (95% CI 1.41-2.27). All of the cohort studies were performed in Asian countries. The single non Asian study (Dutta et al) showed no increase in OR between elevated NLR and lymph node metastasis 0.97 (0.40-2.34).
CONCLUSIONS
This meta analysis suggests that elevated NLR predicts lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer, especially in Asian patients. This has implications on staging and management, particularly in consideration of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Given that Asian patients may have phenotypically and genetically different cancers to Caucasians, further studies are needed to compare the two populations.
This meta analysis suggests that elevated NLR predicts lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer, especially in Asian patients. This has implications on staging and management, particularly in consideration of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Given that Asian patients may have phenotypically and genetically different cancers to Caucasians, further studies are needed to compare the two populations.
