Diagnostic Implications of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio, and Systemic Immune-inflammatory Index for Gastric Carcinoma

Background: The diagnosis of gastric carcinoma (GC) is essential for improving clinical outcomes. However, the biomarkers currently used for GC screening are not ideal.

Aim: To explore the diagnostic implications of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) for GC.

Methods: The baseline data of 133 patients with GC and 134 patients with precancerous gastric conditions admitted between January 2022 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The information on peripheral blood platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts in each patient was collected, and the NLR, PLR, and SII levels of both groups were calculated. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the diagnostic implications of NLR, PLR, and SII in differentiating patients with precancerous gastric conditions, compared with those with GC, were analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results: The data indicated that NLR, PLR, and SII had abnormally increased levels in the patients with GC. Gender and body mass index were risk factors for the occurrence of GC. ROC data revealed that the areas under the curve of three patients with precancerous gastric conditions, who were differentiated from those with GC, were 0.824, 0.787, and 0.842, respectively.

Conclusion: NLR, PLR, and SII are all abnormally expressed in GC and have diagnostic implications, especially when used as joint indicators, in distinguishing patients with precancerous gastric conditions from those with GC.