Table 1.
Study characteristics of included studies for systematic review.
| Author Name | Year of Publication | Prognostic Parameter (PLR/NLR/MLR) | Cohort Size | Anatomic Location of Cancer | Country of Study | Type of Study | Gender | Stage of Cancer | Metastasis | Risk Factors | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wen et al. [47] | 2018 | PLR NLR |
723 | Esophageal (65%) Gastric (35%) |
UK | retrospective study | male (75.5%) female (24.5%) |
T0 (4.6%) T1 (14.4%) T2 (21.0%) T3 (51.9%) T4 (8.2%) |
M1 2.5% | NA | 66.1 ± 10.5 |
| Kawakita et al. [48] | 2016 | PLR NLR |
140 | Parotid gland (78%) Submandibular gland (20%) Others (2%) |
Japan | retrospective study | male (86%) female (14%) |
T1 (9%) T2 (26%) T3 (20%) 4a (44%) 4b (1%) |
M0 (93%) M1 (7%) |
NA | 64 (26–84) |
| Chen et al. [49] | 2014 | NLR PLR |
211 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (85.8%) female (14.2%) |
NA | NA | NA | 46 (14–72) |
| Zhang et al. [50] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
468 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (80.3%) female (19.7%) |
stage I (9.8 %) stage II (42.6 %) stage III (47.6 %) |
NA | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
59.5 ± 9.0 |
| Jiang et al. [51] | 2017 | PLR NLR LMR |
78 | Thyroid (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (43.6%) female (56.4%) |
stage I (23.1%) stage II (20.5%) stage III (20.5%) stage IV (35.9%) |
M1 (2.6%) | NA | 47.3 ± 13.8 |
| Li et al. [52] | 2016 | PLR NLR LMR |
388 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | NA | NA | M0 (100%) | NA | |
| Feng et al. [53] | 2014 | NLR PLR |
483 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (85.1%) female (14.9%) |
T1 (18.0%) T2 (16.6%) T3 (54.9%) T4 (10.5%) |
M0 (56.7%) M1 (43.3%) |
NA | 59.1 ± 8.0 |
| Jiang et al. [54] | 2015 | PLR | 1261 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (72.9%) female (27.1%) |
Clinical stage I (3.25) II (14.8%) III (52.7%) IV (29.4%) Tumor stage T1 (8.6%) T2 (23.6%) T3 (46.2%) T4 (21.5%) Node stage N0 (16.8%) N1 (36.6%) N2 (37.7%) N3 (9.0%) |
M1 (12.4) M0 (87.6) |
Smoking Chronic HBV infection Cardiovascular disease Diabetes mellitus Family history of NPC |
46 (39–55) |
| Jung et al. [55] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
119 | Esophagus (100%) | Korea | retrospective study | male (94.1%) female (5.9%) |
Pathological stage I (31.1%) II 33 (27.7%) III 49 (41.2) |
M0 (100%) | NA | 63.64 ± 8.42 |
| He et al. [56] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
317 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (84.5%) female (15.5%) |
TNM I–II (68.5%) III–IV (31.5%) |
M0 (53.9%) M1 (46.1%) |
Smoking Alcohol consumption |
60 (37–77) |
| Jiang et al. [57] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
70 | Thyroid (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (40%) female (60%) |
Stage III or IV (50.0%) | M1 (2.9%) | NA | 47.7 ± 13.9 |
| Hirahara et al. [58] | 2017 | LMR NLR PLR |
147 | Esophagus (100%) | Japan | retrospective study | male (89.8%) female (10.2% |
Pathological stage Ia–1b (40.1%) 2a–2b (22.4%) 3a–3c (37.4%) |
NA | NA | NA |
| Ong et al. [59] | 2016 | LMR NLR PLR |
133 | Tongue (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (53.4%) female (46.6%) |
pT classification, n (%) T1 (39.1%) T2 (60.9%) |
M0 (96.2%) M1 (3.8%) |
NA | 51.92 (24–74) |
| Mao et al. [60] | 2017 | PLR | 899 | Larynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (97.1%) female (2.9%) |
T 1 (22.9%) 2 (28.9%) 3 (29.1%) 4 (19.0%) N 0 (81.2%) 1 (9.7%) 2 (8.6%) 3 (0.6%) |
M0 (100%) | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
60 (22–87) |
| Dutta et al. [61] | 2011 | NLR PLR |
112 | Esophagus (100%) | UK | retrospective study | male (75.9%) female (24.1%) |
TNM stage I 17.9% II 34.8% III 46.4% IV 0.9% |
NA | NA | <65 (60.7%) 65–74 (33.9%) ≥75 (5.4%) |
| Li et al. [62] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
409 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (70.4%) female (29.6%) |
(I–II) (18.8%) (III–IV) (81.2%) |
M0 (84.4%) M1 (15.6%) |
NA | 45 (18–77) |
| Messager et al. [63] | 2015 | PLR | 153 | Esophagus (100%) | UK | live patient samples | male (83.7%) female (16.3%) |
||||
| Hirahara et al. [64] | 2016 | LMR NLR PLR |
147 | Esophagus (100%) | Japan | retrospective study | male (89.8%) female (10.2%) |
Pathological stage Ia–Ib 40.1% IIa–Iib 22.5% IIIa–IIIc 37.4% |
NA | NA | NA |
| Moon et al. [65] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
153 | Oropharynx 33.3% Nasopharynx 31.4% Larynx 18.3% Hypopharynx 17.0% |
Korea | live patient samples | male (84.3%) female (15.7%) |
Clinical TNM stage T1/T2 17.6%/36.6% T3/T4 14.4%/31.4% N0/N1 21.6%/20.9% N2/N3 49.7%/7.8% Overall I/II 4.6%/17.0% Overall III/IV 13.7%/64.75% |
M0 (100%) | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
57 (16–78) |
| Hirahara et al. [66] | 2016 | LMR NLR PLR |
147 | Esophagus (100%) | Japan | retrospective study | male (89.8%) female (10.2%) |
pathological stage 1a–1b (40.2%) 2a–2b (22.4%) 3a–3c (37.4%) |
NA | NA | |
| Turri–Zanoni et al. [67] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
215 | Paranasal sinus (100%) | Italy | retrospective study | male (34%) female (66%) |
pT classification pT1 19% pT2 18% pT3 22% pT4a 16% pT4b 25% |
M0 (100%) | NA | 65 (8–87) |
| Xie et al. [68] | 2014 | NLR PLR |
317 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (77%) female (23%) |
Tumor stage Stage I 88.4 Stage II 69.7 Stage III 42.4 |
M0 (100%) | NA | 58.1 ± 8.9 |
| Bojaxhiu et al. [69] | 2018 | NLR PLR |
186 | Oral cavity (28%) Oropharynx (45%) Hypopharynx (15%) Larynx (13%) |
Switzerland | retrospective study | male (79%) female (22%) |
UICC stage, N (%) I (3%) II (6%) III (24%) IV (68%) |
M0 (100%) | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
61 (41–88) |
| Sun et al. [70] | 2017 | NLR PLR |
148 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (83.8%) female (16.2%) |
M0 (100%) | Smoking | 45 (24–72) | |
| Sun et al. [71] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
251 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (71.7%) female (28.3%) |
UICC/AJCC stage I 2.4% II 15.9% III 47.4% IV 34.3% |
M0 (100%) | NA | 46 (15–76) |
| Tangthongkum et al. [72] | 2017 | PLR | 274 | Oral (100%) | Thailand | retrospective study | males (64.4%) females (35.6%) |
NA | NA | NA | 60 (21–92) |
| Ozturk et al. [73] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
57 | Tongue (100%) | Turkey | retrospective study | male (38.6%) female (61.4%) |
stage I (64.9 %) stage II (35.1 %) |
M0 (100%) | NA | 57.8 (23–88) |
| Toyokawa et al. [74] | 2016 | NLR PLR |
185 | Esophagus (100%) | Japan | retrospective study | male (82.2 %) female (17.8%) |
Clinical TNM stage I 36.2% II 42.2% III/IV 21.6% |
M0 (100%) | NA | <65 51.4% ≥65 48.6% |
| Urabe et al. [75] | 2017 | LMR NLR PLR |
1363 | Resectable Gastric and Esophagogastric Junction | Japan | retrospective study | male (71.5%) female (28.5%) |
T stage T1 58% T2 11.8% T3 17.6% T4 12.6% |
M0 (100%) | NA | NA |
| Wang et al. [76] | 2014 | PLR | 252 | Upper aerodigestive tract | China | retrospective study | male (68.7%) female (31.3%) |
Ann Arbor stage IE 61.5% IIE 38.5 % |
NA | NA | 41 (9–80) |
| Wei et al. [77] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
423 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (80.6%) female (19.4) |
TNM stage (AJCC, 7th) I (12.8%) II (39.7%) III (33.6%) IV (13.9%) |
M0 (86.1) M1 (13.9) |
NA | 58 (24–88) |
| Xu et al. [78] | 2015 | NLR PLR |
468 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (88.9%) female (11.1%) |
Clinical stage I II IIIA IIIB + IIIC |
NA | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
58 |
| Yang et al. [79] | 2018 | NLR PLR |
515 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (81.2%) female (18.8%) |
TNM Stage I II III |
M0 (100%) | NA | 61(33–92) |
| Ye et al. [80] | 2018 | NLR PLR |
427 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (71.9%) female (28.1%) |
TNM stage I 2.1 II 18.7% III 48.7% IV 30.5% |
yes | NA | 48 (17–82) |
| Yuan et al. [81] | 2014 | NLR PLR |
327 | Esophagogastric junction (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (86.2%) female(13.8%) |
pTNM stage I and II (45.9%) III and IV (54.1%) |
yes | NA | 63.1± 9.7 (39–77) |
| Zhang et al. [82] | 2017 | NLR PLR |
355 | Esophagogastric junction (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (79.2%) female (20.8%) |
TNM stage I, II (43.4%) III, IV (56.6%) |
NA | NA | 64 (34–82) |
| Chen et al. [20] | 2018 | NLR PLR MLR |
361 | Larynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (97.8%) female (2.2%) |
TNM stage I 31.6% II 32.7% III 19.7% IV 16.0% |
yes | NA | 60 (35–87) |
| Hsu et al. [83] | 2009 | MLR | 1069 | Esophagus (100%) | Taiwan | retrospective study | male (94.5%) female (5.5%) |
stage I 53 (10.9%) II 197 (40.4%) III 138 (28.3%) IV 100 (20.5%) |
yes | NA | 63.8 (34–88) |
| Chien et al. [84] | 2016 | MLR | 2025 | Esophagus (100%) | Taiwan | retrospective study | male (94.1%) female (5.9%) |
cStage T1–2N0 T3–4N0 T1–2N (+) T3–4N (+) Unknown |
yes | NA | 55.2 ± 9.8 |
| Furukawa et al. [85] | 2019 | LMR | 103 | Tongue (100%) | Japan | retrospective study | male (53.8%) female (46.2%) |
stage I, II 84.5% III, IV 15.5% |
yes | Smoking Alcohol consumption |
63 (26–92) |
| Hsueh et al. [86] | 2017 | NLR PLR LMR |
979 | Larynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (97.5%) female (2.5%) |
stage I 23.7% II 36.4% III 26.8% IV 13.1% |
yes | NA | 60.81 ± 9.68 |
| Huang et al. [87] | 2015 | LMR | 348 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (87.1%) female (12.9%) |
NA | yes | NA | 59.2 ±7.8 |
| Kano et al. [88] | 2016 | NLR PLR LMR |
285 | Larynx (23.5%) Oropharynx (40.7%) Hypopharynx (35.8%) |
Japan | retrospective study | male (88.4%) female (11.6%) |
Clinical stage I, II (22.1%) III, IV (77.9%) |
no | NA | 61 (37–80) |
| Li et al. [89] | 2013 | LMR | 1547 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | retrospective study | male 72.7% female 27.3% |
Overall stage I-II (21.6%) III-IV (78.4%) |
yes | NA | 51 (6–87) |
| Li et al. [52] | 2017 | NLR PLR LMR |
249 | Nasopharynx (100%) | China | prospective study | male (73.9%) female (26.1%) |
Clinical stage I-II 26.1 III-IV 73.9 |
yes | NA | ≤50 (65.9%) >50 (34.1%) |
| Liu et al. [90] | 2015 | NLR PLR LMR |
326 | Esophagus (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (86.8%) female (13.2%) |
T stage T1 (18.1%) T2 (18.4%) T3 (53.7%) T4 (9.8%) |
NA | NA | 59.2 ± 7.9 (38–80) |
| Oya et al. [91] | 2018 | NLR PLR LMR |
441 | Oral cavity 44% Larynx 28% Oropharynx 10% Hypopharynx 13 % Other 5% |
Japan | retrospective study | male (73%) female (27%) |
Stage I 32% II 18% III 15% IV 35% |
no | NA | 68 (27–92) |
| Yang et al. [92] | 2018 | NLR LMR |
197 | Hypopharyngeal (100%) | China | retrospective study | male (99.0%) female (0.01%) |
Clinical stage I (2.0%) II (13.2%) III (27.5%) IV (57.4%) |
yes | Smoking Drinking |
<59 (50.8%) ≥59 (49.2%) |