Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background Previous studies have demonstrated a strong association between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the outcomes of patients with resected hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases. However, the predictive ability of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, especially those treated with preoperative chemotherapy, has been less well described. Methods The clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival, and recurrence free survival of all patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma resected between 2000–2015, were compared between those with elevated (≥3.0) and normal (<3.0) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Results Among 119 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 64 (53.8%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 and 55 (46.2%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0. Patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 were more likely to be female and have lymph node metastasis (P <.05). Cumulative 5-year overall survival and recurrence free survival rates were 87% and 60%, respectively in patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0, compared with 64% and 39%, respectively in patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 (P =.049 and.038). Among 43 patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy and resection, 21 (48.8%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 and 22 (51.2%) had neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0. In this subgroup, cumulative 5-year overall survival and recurrence free survival rates were 95% and 70%, respectively in the patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.0 compared with 50% and 26%, respectively in the patients with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 (P =.002 and P =.004). On multivariate analysis, a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.0 was associated significantly with worse overall survival among all patients as well as overall survival and recurrence free survival among the subgroup who received preoperative chemotherapy. Conclusion Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated independently with worse survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma undergoing resection or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to resection.