Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Urology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts adrenocortical carcinoma and is correlated with the prognosis

Authors: Taku Mochizuki, Takashi Kawahara, Daiji Takamoto, Kazuhide Makiyama, Yusuke Hattori, Jun-ichi Teranishi, Yasuhide Miyoshi, Yasushi Yumura, Masahiro Yao, Hiroji Uemura

Published in: BMC Urology | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is reported as a biomarker for some solid malignant diseases. Thus far, however, no reports of the relationship between the NLR and adrenal tumors have been published. We analyzed the utility of the preoperative NLR as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis or diagnosis of malignant disease.

Methods

A total of 59 patients with adrenal tumors (13 cases of malignant disease and 46 with benign disease) were analyzed in this study from February 2004 to June 2015 at our institute. The NLR was obtained just before adrenalectomy. The diagnosis of adrenal tumor was confirmed by a pathological examination of surgical specimens.

Results

The NLR in malignant adrenal tumor specimens was significantly higher than in non-malignant specimens (p = 0.028). Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) showed the highest NLR among all adrenal tumors. In ACC, the higher NLR group (NLR ≥ 5) showed a significantly poorer overall survival than the lower NLR group (NLR < 5) (p = 0.032).

Conclusions

In adrenal tumors, a higher NLR indicates a higher incidence of malignancy. The NLR might be a new biomarker for predicting the prognosis of adrenal tumor patients.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Wajchenberg BL, Albergaria Pereira MA, Medonca BB, Latronico AC, Campos Carneiro P, Alves VA, et al. Adrenocortical carcinoma: clinical and laboratory observations. Cancer. 2000;88(4):711–36.CrossRefPubMed Wajchenberg BL, Albergaria Pereira MA, Medonca BB, Latronico AC, Campos Carneiro P, Alves VA, et al. Adrenocortical carcinoma: clinical and laboratory observations. Cancer. 2000;88(4):711–36.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Kebebew E, Reiff E, Duh QY, Clark OH, McMillan A. Extent of disease at presentation and outcome for adrenocortical carcinoma: have we made progress? World J Surg. 2006;30(5):872–8.CrossRefPubMed Kebebew E, Reiff E, Duh QY, Clark OH, McMillan A. Extent of disease at presentation and outcome for adrenocortical carcinoma: have we made progress? World J Surg. 2006;30(5):872–8.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Phan AT. Adrenal cortical carcinoma--review of current knowledge and treatment practices. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2007;21(3):489–507. viii-ixCrossRefPubMed Phan AT. Adrenal cortical carcinoma--review of current knowledge and treatment practices. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2007;21(3):489–507. viii-ixCrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Prescott JD, Wang TS, Glenn J, et al. Actual 10-year survivors following resection of adrenocortical carcinoma. J Surg Oncol. 2016;114(8):971–6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Prescott JD, Wang TS, Glenn J, et al. Actual 10-year survivors following resection of adrenocortical carcinoma. J Surg Oncol. 2016;114(8):971–6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
go back to reference Ohno Y, Nakashima J, Ohori M, Hatano T, Tachibana M. Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an independent predictor of recurrence in patients with nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Urol. 2010;184(3):873–8.CrossRefPubMed Ohno Y, Nakashima J, Ohori M, Hatano T, Tachibana M. Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an independent predictor of recurrence in patients with nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Urol. 2010;184(3):873–8.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Kawahara T, Yokomizo Y, Ito Y, Ito H, Ishiguro H, Teranishi J, et al. Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the prognosis in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. BMC Cancer. 2016;16:111.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Kawahara T, Yokomizo Y, Ito Y, Ito H, Ishiguro H, Teranishi J, et al. Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the prognosis in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. BMC Cancer. 2016;16:111.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
go back to reference Walsh SR, Cook EJ, Goulder F, Justin TA, Keeling NJ. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 2005;91(3):181–4.CrossRefPubMed Walsh SR, Cook EJ, Goulder F, Justin TA, Keeling NJ. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 2005;91(3):181–4.CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Azab B, Bhatt VR, Phookan J, Murukutla S, Kohn N, Terjanian T, et al. Usefulness of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting short- and long-term mortality in breast cancer patients. Ann Surg Oncol. 2012;19(1):217–24.CrossRefPubMed Azab B, Bhatt VR, Phookan J, Murukutla S, Kohn N, Terjanian T, et al. Usefulness of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting short- and long-term mortality in breast cancer patients. Ann Surg Oncol. 2012;19(1):217–24.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Yamanaka T, Matsumoto S, Teramukai S, Ishiwata R, Nagai Y, Fukushima M. The baseline ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is associated with patient prognosis in advanced gastric cancer. Oncology. 2007;73(3–4):215–20.CrossRefPubMed Yamanaka T, Matsumoto S, Teramukai S, Ishiwata R, Nagai Y, Fukushima M. The baseline ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is associated with patient prognosis in advanced gastric cancer. Oncology. 2007;73(3–4):215–20.CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Bagante F, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Wang TS, Evans DB, et al. Neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of disease specific survival after resection of adrenocortical carcinoma. J Surg Oncol. 2015;112(2):164–72.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Bagante F, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Wang TS, Evans DB, et al. Neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of disease specific survival after resection of adrenocortical carcinoma. J Surg Oncol. 2015;112(2):164–72.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
go back to reference Fishman EK, Deutch BM, Hartman DS, Goldman SM, Zerhouni EA, Siegelman SS. Primary adrenocortical carcinoma: CT evaluation with clinical correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987;148(3):531–5.CrossRefPubMed Fishman EK, Deutch BM, Hartman DS, Goldman SM, Zerhouni EA, Siegelman SS. Primary adrenocortical carcinoma: CT evaluation with clinical correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987;148(3):531–5.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Benitah N, Yeh BM, Qayyum A, Williams G, Breiman RS, Coakley FV. Minor morphologic abnormalities of adrenal glands at CT: prognostic importance in patients with lung cancer. Radiology. 2005;235(2):517–22.CrossRefPubMed Benitah N, Yeh BM, Qayyum A, Williams G, Breiman RS, Coakley FV. Minor morphologic abnormalities of adrenal glands at CT: prognostic importance in patients with lung cancer. Radiology. 2005;235(2):517–22.CrossRefPubMed
14.
15.
go back to reference Kou T, Kanai M, Yamamoto M, Xue P, Mori Y, Kudo Y, et al. Prognostic model for survival based on readily available pretreatment factors in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy. Int J Clin Oncol. 2016;21(1):118–25.CrossRefPubMed Kou T, Kanai M, Yamamoto M, Xue P, Mori Y, Kudo Y, et al. Prognostic model for survival based on readily available pretreatment factors in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy. Int J Clin Oncol. 2016;21(1):118–25.CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference McDonald AC, Vira MA, Vidal AC, Gan W, Freedland SJ, Taioli E. Association between systemic inflammatory markers and serum prostate-specific antigen in men without prostatic disease - the 2001-2008 National Health and nutrition examination survey. Prostate. 2014;74(5):561–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral McDonald AC, Vira MA, Vidal AC, Gan W, Freedland SJ, Taioli E. Association between systemic inflammatory markers and serum prostate-specific antigen in men without prostatic disease - the 2001-2008 National Health and nutrition examination survey. Prostate. 2014;74(5):561–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
go back to reference Kawahara T, Fukui S, Sakamaki K, Ito Y, Ito H, Kobayashi N, et al. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts prostatic carcinoma in men undergoing needle biopsy. Oncotarget. 2015;6(31):32169–76.PubMedPubMedCentral Kawahara T, Fukui S, Sakamaki K, Ito Y, Ito H, Kobayashi N, et al. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts prostatic carcinoma in men undergoing needle biopsy. Oncotarget. 2015;6(31):32169–76.PubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts adrenocortical carcinoma and is correlated with the prognosis
Authors
Taku Mochizuki
Takashi Kawahara
Daiji Takamoto
Kazuhide Makiyama
Yusuke Hattori
Jun-ichi Teranishi
Yasuhide Miyoshi
Yasushi Yumura
Masahiro Yao
Hiroji Uemura
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Urology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2490
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-017-0240-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

BMC Urology 1/2017 Go to the issue