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Objective:To assess the value of platelet-to-albumin ratio on overall survival(OS) and cancer specific survival(CSS) in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC).Methods:169 patients with UTUC in Qilu hospital of Shandong University from January 2006 to December 2013 were included in this study, retrospectively. 107(63.3%) were male and 62(36.7%) were female. Their age ranged from 36 to 87 years old, mean 65 years old. 73(43.2%)were less than 65 years old and 96(56.8%) were more than 65 years old. 38 patients had the history of smoking.15 patients had the history of bladder cancer. The single tumor was found in 159 cases (94.1%). 10 patients(5.9) owned more than one site of tumor. For the ECOG, 159 cases (94.1%) were 0 score and 10 cases(5.9%) were ≥1 score. The mean Platelet count was 217.0×10 9/L, ranging (68.0-772.0)×10 9/L. The average serum albumin was 42.0 g/L, ranging (27.3-52.7)g/L. The mean PAR was 5.40×10 9, ranging(0-17.31)×10 9. 147(87.0%) patients accepted radical nephroureterectomy and 22(13.0%) cases accepted segmental ureterectomy.155 cases(91.7%) used postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation. The patients were divided into two groups as low PAR or high according to the receiver operating curve (ROC)analysis of PAR. And the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the OS and CSS and test the equivalences of the curves by log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were carried out using Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results:We set 6.67×10 9 was the optimal cutoff value of PAR. Therefore, the cohort was divided into 2 groups, 133(78.7%) patients had low PAR (<6.67×10 9) and 36 patients had high PAR (≥6.67×10 9). The 3-year OS and 5-year OS of high preoperative PAR group were 50.0% and 46.2%, respectively. And low preoperative PAR group were 77.6% and 66.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, no difference was found in gender, age, tumor size, history of smoking and LVI. Meanwhile, tumor grade (G 1-2 or G 3), pathological T stage (pT a/T 1 or pT 2-4) and PAR (<6.67×10 9 or ≥6.67×10 9) were significantly associated with OS and CSS. Multivariate analysis with a Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed and showed that PAR was significantly associated with OS and CSS (OS: HR=1.850, 95% CI 1.095-3.127, P=0.022; CSS: HR=2.154, 95% CI 1. 242-3.736, P=0.006). Conclusions:Preoperative PAR is an independent prognostic factor in predicting patient with UTUC. And the platelet and serum albumin level are low cost and easy to obtain. PAR may be expected to become a biological factor to predict the prognostic factor in patients with UTUC.
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The liver has been characterized as a frontline lymphoid organ with complex immunological features such as liver immunity and liver tolerance. Liver tolerance plays an important role in liver diseases including acute inflammation, chronic infection, autoimmune disease, and tumors. The liver contains a large proportion of natural killer (NK) cells, which exhibit heterogeneity in phenotypic and functional characteristics. NK cell activation, well known for its role in the immune surveillance against tumor and pathogen-infected cells, depends on the balance between numerous activating and inhibitory signals. In addition to the innate direct "killer" functions, NK cell activity contributes to regulate innate and adaptive immunity (helper or regulator). Under the setting of liver diseases, NK cells are of great importance for stimulating or inhibiting immune responses, leading to either immune activation or immune tolerance. Here, we focus on the relationship between NK cell biology, such as their phenotypic features and functional diversity, and liver diseases.