Predictive value of preoperative monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in elderly patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To determine the predictive value of preoperative monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR) for prognosis in elderly patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy(RNU).Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 168 elderly patients who underwent RNU in Beijing Hospital between March 2004 to February 2019.Males accounted for 44.6% (75 patients) and females 55.4%(93 patients) of the patients. Median age at the time of surgery was 73(69-78) years, and 110 (65.5%) patients suffered from hydronephrosis. There were 147 cases(87.5%)with single tumor, and 21 cases(12.5%)with multiple tumors, including 75(46.6%) cases in renal pelvis or pelvi-ureteric junction, and 93(53.4%)cases in ureter. Open RNU was performed in 106(63.1%) patients, and laparoscopic method in 62(32.9%) patients. The optimal cutoff value of MLR was set as 0.22 by using the median.χ 2 test, which was used to detect the association between MLR(≤0.22 vs.>0.22) and clinicopathological variables. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test. Additional subgroup analyses(low grade vs. high grade) were performed according to pathological grade. Univariate and multivariate analysis by Cox’s proportional hazards model was used to determine the significance of MLR in respect to OS and PFS. Results:The follow-up period ranged from 19.2 to 86.9 months (median 51.9 months). Next, the cohort was divided into 2 groups , including 77 patients with low MLR(≤0.22) and 91 patients with high MLR(>0.22). High MLR was significantly more frequent in male patients(31.2% vs.56.0%), as well as those undergoing laparoscopic surgery (54.5% vs.70.3%)(All P<0.05). Based on a Cox univariate proportional hazards analysis, male gender( HR=1.793, 95% CI 1.003-3.205, P=0.049), presence of lymph node metastasis( HR=6.809, 95% CI 2.124-17.454, P=0.001) and high MLR( HR=2.287, 95% CI 1.259-4.154, P=0.007)were associated with poor OS. Male gender( HR=1.758, 95% CI 1.066-2.902, P=0.027), presence of lymph node metastasis( HR=6.524, 95% CI 2.542-16.748, P<0.001), lymphovascular invasion(LVI) ( HR=2.348, 95% CI 1.139-4.838, P=0.021), high MLR( HR=2.801, 95% CI 1.657-4.735, P<0.001)and PLR( HR=1.663, 95% CI 1.003-2.757, P=0.049) were significantly associated with subsequent PFS. By multivariate analysis, tumor site( HR=2.050, 95% CI 1.079-3.892, P=0.028), lymph node metastasis ( HR=6.641, 95% CI 1.852-23.811, P=0.004) and MLR( HR=2.089, 95% CI 1.062-4.113, P=0.033) were the independent risk factors for OS in elderly patients with UTUC. Tumor side( HR=2.024, 95% CI 1.033-3.965, P=0.040), multifocality ( HR=2.992, 95% CI 1.161-7.713, P=0.023), lymph node metastasis ( HR=6.454, 95% CI 2.026-20.564, P=0.002) and MLR( HR=2.866, 95% CI 1.554-5.284, P=0.001) were associated with PFS.The multivariate analysis of the significant risk factors established a postoperative risk stratification model for OS and PFS. The results showed significant differences among the 3 subgroups of patients with low(0 risk factor), intermediate(1 risk factor), or high risk(2-3 risk factors)(All P<0.05). Conclusion:MLR was an independent risk factor for OS and PFS in elderly patients with UTUC and patients with elevated MLR have worsen prognosis.