Significant difference of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio between colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyp and healthy people.

OBJECTIVE: Tumor was reported to correlate with inflammation and the host's inflammatory response to tumor has been shown to independently predict the outcome. Many measures of the systemic inflammatory response have been studied in recent years. In the present study the full blood count (leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte) of colorectal cancers (CRCs) adenomatous polyps, and healthy people were collected, and the difference of ratios was studied.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 752 individuals (242 colorectal cancers, 248 adenomatous polyps, and 262 healthy people) were randomized enrolled in the present study. The full blood counts (leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte) of each individual were collected and the NLRs were calculated.

RESULTS: The leukocyte count, neutrophil ratio and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were the highest in colorectal cancer group, the second in adenomatous polyp group, and the lowest in healthy control (p < 0.001). The lymphocyte ratio was in the reverse order (p < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that sensitivity and specificity levels of NLR were 66.9% and 77.6% for CRCs, 36.7% and 80.9% for adenomatous polyp. The leukocyte count was higher in the advanced adenomatous polyp compared with low-risk group (p = 0.042). Further analyses of the diagnostic value of NLR are warranted in the future.

CONCLUSIONS: Difference of leukocyte count, neutrophil ratio and NLR may provide available information in the differential diagnosis of CRC, adenomatous polyp and healthy people.