Background: Systemic inflammation has been implicated in cancer development and progression. This study sought to determine whether systemic inflammatory markers can predict postoperative outcome in soft tissue sarcoma (STS).
Methods: A total of 162 cases of primary, localized STS were reviewed. Patients with evidence of infectious or inflammatory diseases were excluded. The mean follow-up period was 46.7 months. The level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) measured before surgery were evaluated for association with disease-specific survival and local recurrence.
Results: The mean values of CRP, ESR, and NLR were 0.79 mg/dL, 18.8 mm/h, and 2.12, respectively. Cutoff values derived from receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis were 0.20 mg/dL for CRP, 10.0 mm/h for ESR, and 2.50 for NLR. On univariate analysis, all inflammatory markers were associated with disease-specific survival (CRP: P = 0.007; ESR: P = 0.022; NLR: P = 0.030). On multivariate analysis, the CRP level (P = 0.019) and ESR (P = 0.013) remained significant. Elevation of multiple markers was a more significant prognostic factor than elevation of a single marker (P = 0.001). However, none of the inflammatory markers was associated with local recurrence (CRP: P = 0.345; ESR: P = 0.271; NLR: P = 0.570). Histologic grade was strongly correlated with inflammatory marker values (NLR: P < 0.001; ESR: P = 0.002; CRP: P = 0.007).
Conclusions: Preoperative systemic inflammatory status, assessed by using multiple serum markers, predicted disease-specific survival in STS.