Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent prognostic predictor for AFP negative hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on recurrence after hepatectomy for AFP negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Clinical data of 68 AFP negative HCC patients undergoing radical hepatectomy from September 2010 to January 2013 were analyzed retrospectively.According to preoperative NLR,patients were divided into low NLR group (NLR ＜ 2.78) and high NLR group (NLR ≥ 2.78),respectively.Univariate analysis was performed to assess for a significant difference in clinicopathological characteristics influencing disease-free suvival after hepatectomy.A multivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression for variables significant on univariate analysis.Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess disease-free survival rate.Results The overall 1,2,and 3-year disease-free survival rate was 79.7％,37.5％,and 18.2％ respectively.The disease-free survival of high NLR group was significantly lower than the low NLR group (1,2,and 3-year overall survival were 70.3％,35.1％,and 13.5％ vs 85.2％,40.7％,and 18.5％,respectively,P =0.042).Preoperative NLR ≥2.78,tumor size (＞ 5 cm),microvascular invasion and liver cirrhosis were risk factors of poor disease-free survival.Cox regression analysis revealed that all of these four factors were independent predictors of poorer disease-free survival.Conclusions Preoperative NLR≥2.78 was one of independent adverse predictors for disease-free survival in AFP negative HCC patients after hepatectomy.