Background: Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) has been reported as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer. However, proof of the clinical usefulness of LMR requires detailed research on subjects that can contribute to therapeutic strategies. Our study aimed to provide a detailed link to resectable advanced colorectal cancer for which LMR is predicted to be particularly useful.
Methods: A cohort of 554 resectable advanced colon cancer patients in our institution was analysed retrospectively. The analysis was performed on all cases of resectable advanced colon cancer and Stage II and Stage III. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine the LMR cut-off value. The relationship between LMR, clinicopathologic factors, and other biomarkers were analysed using a Kaplan-Meier log-rank survival analysis and then multivariate Cox regression models looking for association with overall survival (OS) and Relapse free survival (RFS).
Results: LMR was useful for predicting OS and RFS in the analysis of all cases. Moreover, it was an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR)= 0.530, 95% confidence intervals (CI)= 0.334–0.842, P=0.007]. LMR was also an independent prognostic predictor at each stage. In particular, it was highly useful for prediction in cases with lymph node metastasis (StageⅢ) and was a prognostic predictor following the N factor.