Prognostic Significance of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in Extrahepatic Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Resection

• Main Authors: Chen Y, Zeng J, Guo P, Liu J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-02-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: hepatocellular carcinoma; liver resection; extrahepatic metastasis; inflammation-related indexes
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/prognostic-significance-of-platelet-to-lymphocyte-ratio-plr-in-extrahe-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Yifan Chen,1,2,* Jianxing Zeng,2,* Pengfei Guo,3 Jinhua Zeng,1,2,4 Jingfeng Liu1,2,4 1Department of Hepatic Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Southeast Big Data Institute of Hepatobiliary Health, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jingfeng LiuDepartment of Hepatic Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xihong Road 312, Fuzhou, 350025, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: The prognosis for patients diagnosed of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have extrahepatic metastasis after liver resection is unsatisfactory. This study aimed to find out the relationship between the inflammation-related indexes and metastasis.Methods: One thousand three hundred and sixty-six patients diagnosed of HCC who underwent curative resection were included in this study and divided into metastasis group (n=180) and non-metastasis group (n=1186). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to estimate the optimal cut-off value for inflammation-related indexes. Independent risk factors were identified by Cox regression analysis. The metastasis rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, then the subgroup analyses were taken.Results: The cut-off values of NLR, PLR, LMR, NγLR, PNLR, and PNI were 2.65, 107.67, 5.47, 134.52, 335.03, and 51.23, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that elevated serum AFP level (P=0.004), tumor size more than 5cm (P< 0.001), multiple tumors (P=0.040), and higher PLR (P=0.042) were independent risk factors associated with extrahepatic metastasis. The Kaplan-Meier method showed that the high PLR group has a higher extrahepatic metastasis rate than the low PLR group. Meanwhile, the results of subgroup analyses were consistent with the conclusion.Conclusion: The PLR is an independent risk factor of extrahepatic metastasis after radical hepatectomy for HCC patients. The high PLR indicates a higher rate of extrahepatic metastasis.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, liver resection, extrahepatic metastasis, inflammation-related indexes