Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Single Institutional Experience.

Background: Despite advancements in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC), the prognosis of metastatic CRC remains poor. The prognostic and clinical significance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet- to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in CRC remains uncertain, which has attracted increasing interest from researchers. Methods: A prospective cohort study included 125 metastatic CRC patients at the Medical Oncology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute (SECI), Assiut University, from June 2022 to June 2024. We evaluated the prognostic value of NLR and PLR in metastatic CRC patients. Results: Among 125 patients included in our study, 62 patients (49.6%) had a high NLR ≥3 and showed shorter overall survival (OS) (13 vs 18 months (ms), P = 0.02). Furthermore, 70 patients (56%) had a high PLR ≥163 and also showed shorter OS (13 vs 18 ms, P = 0.019) after a median follow-up period of 14 months. Multivariate analysis revealed that NLR was an independent predictor factor for OS (P = 0.019), whereas PLR lost its statistical significance. Conclusion: NLR may serve as a useful prognostic factor in metastatic CRC patients. Further studies are needed to clarify its role in CRC management.