Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as biomarkers for predicting lymph node metastasis and survival in patients treated with radical cystectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as pre-operative markers for predicting extravesical disease and survival outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 4335 patients undergoing RC for clinically non-metastatic UCB were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to predict lymph node involvement and extravesical disease (defined as ≥pT3 and N0). Recurrence-free (RFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using multivariable Cox models. The accuracy of the models was assessed with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and concordance-index.

RESULTS: Median LMR was 3.5 and median NLR was 2.7. Addition of LMR and NLR to a standard preoperative model improved its discrimination for prediction of lymph node metastasis by 4.5%. On multivariable analysis LMR and NLR independently predicted RFS, CSS, and OS. The discrimination of this model increased by adding LMR and NLR but was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: LMR and NLR independently improved the preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis and survival outcomes. As they are readily available, they could be integrated in a panel of preoperative markers helping selecting patients who have extravesical lymph node involvement and more aggressive disease.