Prognostic value of the platelet to lymphocyte ratio change in liver cancer.

Background: There is limited evidence concerning the postoperative platelet to lymphocyte ratio change (ΔPLR) in relation to the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of ΔPLR in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related small HCC who underwent liver resection.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 219 patients with HBV-related small HCC who underwent liver resection between February 2007 and April 2013. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: group A (ΔPLR ≥2.875, n = 94) and group B (ΔPLR <2.875, n = 125), according to receiver operating characteristic analysis. Demographic, clinical, and follow-up data were analyzed, and multivariate analysis was used to identify prognostic factors.

Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-y overall survival (OS) rates were 90.5%, 72.3%, and 42.1%, respectively, in group A and 98.1%, 89.5%, and 86.4%, respectively, in group B (P < 0.001). Correspondingly, the 1-, 3-, and 5-y recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 57.5%, 36.1%, and 22.8%, respectively, in group A and 84.3%, 62.4%, and 55.4%, respectively, in group B (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ΔPLR was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (P < 0.001, hazard ratio = 5.452, 95% confidence interval 2.592-11.467) and RFS (P < 0.001, hazard ratio = 2.191, 95% confidence interval 1.4611-3.288).

Conclusions: ΔPLR was an independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in patients with HBV-related small HCC who underwent liver resection.