The prognostic value of combined measures of the systemic inflammatory response in patients with colon cancer: an analysis of 1700 patients.

BACKGROUND: The pre-operative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) measured using an acute-phase-protein-based score (modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS)) or the differential white cell count (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)) demonstrates prognostic significance following curative resection of colon cancer. We investigate the complementary use of both measures to better stratify outcomes. METHODS: The effect on survival of mGPS and NLR was examined using uni/multivariate analysis (UVA/MVA) in patients undergoing curative surgery for colon cancer. The synergistic effect of these scores in predicting OS/CSS was examined using a Systemic Inflammatory Grade (SIG). RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred and eight patients with TNM-I-III colon cancer were included. On MVA both mGPS and NLR were significant for OS (HR 1.16/1.21, respectively). Three-year survival stratified by mGPS was 83-58%(TNM-I-III), 87-65%(TNM-II) and 75-49%(TNM-III), and by NLR was 84-62%(TNM-I-III), 88-69%(TNM-II) and 77-49%(TNM-III). When mGPS and NLR were combined to form an overall SIG 0/1/2/3/4, this stratified 3-year OS 88%/84%/76%/65%/60% and CSS 93%/90%/82%/73%/70%, respectively (both p < 0.001). SIG stratified OS 93-68%/82-48% and CSS 97-80%/86-58% in TNM Stage II/III disease, respectively (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the pre-operative SIR in patients undergoing curative surgery for colon cancer is best measured using a SIG utilising mGPS and NLR.