International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 069-074
The impact of Red Cell Distribution Width and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio on Long-term Survival after Pulmonary Resection for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Serkan UYSAL1, Tuba SAHINOGLU2, Ulas KUMBASAR3, Metin DEMIRCIN4, Ilhan PASAOGLU4, Rıza DOGAN4

1Bolu Izzet Baysal State Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bolu, TURKEY
2Sivas Numune Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sivas, TURKEY
3Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara, TURKEY
4Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ankara, TURKEY

Keywords: Red cell distribution width, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio, survival, pulmonary resection, non- small cell lung cancer
Red cell distribution width (RDW) and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) are widely available blood tests which can be used to reflect patients’ inflammation status. We decided to investigate the effects of RDW and NLR levels on long-term survival after pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Data were compiled retrospectively from 249 patients. We found a significant correlation between higher RDW and NLR levels and poorer prognosis. Overall survival rates of patients with high and normal RDW levels were 42±7 and 84±12 months, respectively (p= 0.019). Similarly, disease free survival rates of patients with high and normal RDW levels were 62±6 and 76±4 months (p= 0.047), respectively. When NLR levels were divided into tertiles we observed significantly poorer overall and disease free survival in ascending tertiles. The overall and disease free survival rates in the lower through upper tertiles were respectively 88±6, 80±6, 50±5 months for overall and 87±6, 77±6, 47±5 months for disease free survival (p< 0.001). In conclusion, the ability to accurately predict sub-sets with poor outcomes in patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung cancer is important. RDW and NLR are biomarkers to influence patient selection in this regard. Preoperative measurement of these potential markers are simple, adds no additional cost to routine preoperative workup and can be used for identifying patients with poorer prognosis.