Aim
Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) indicate nutritional status and host immunity. We used immunohistochemistry and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to investigate relationships of these factors with pathological and radiological characteristics in rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Patients and
Conclusion
Patients with higher pretreatment PNI had greater changes in ADC values and stromal CD8 + T-cell counts, and those with greater PNI reduction from nCRT had a worse prognosis. Proper nutritional management during nCRT benefits patients and may lead to better prognosis in rectal cancer.
Methods
We evaluated expression levels of VEGFA, CD8, CD33, and ADC values in tumors pre/post nCRT; and analyzed the relationships between those factors and PNI, NLR in 32 patients.
Results
Pretreatment PNI negatively correlated with change in tumor stromal CD8 + T cells and positively correlated with ADC values. Pretreatment NLR and PNI change correlated with recurrence-free survival (RFS).