Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratios in Local and Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide (Herszenyi et al., 2010). Because the disease is frequently asymptomatic at early stages, it usually diagnoses at advanced stages (Maconi et al., 2008). Chemotherapy in metastatic gastric cancer patients can improve survival and quality of life, however median overall survival still remains often less than 1 year together with significant side effects (Oba et al., 2013). The causes of poor prognosis are associated with both tumor-related and host-related factors, especially the systemic inflammatory response (Colotta et al., 2009). Systemic inflammatory response to tumors increases metastasis through the inhibition of apoptosis, augmentation of angiogenesis, and DNA damage (Jackson et al., 1997; Jaiswal et al., 2000; Balkwill et al., 2001; Coussens et al., 2002). It was observed that inflammatory cells accumulating around tumor cells significantly effects the progression of the tumor and the prognosis.