Prognostic value of immunity change after treatment for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective study

Background: Although the preoperative immune status is associated with the prognosis in some tumors, less is known about the prognostic significance of immune status change during the treatment of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).Methods The records of 210 patients with LAGC were retrospectively analysed. The pre-, and post-treatment (after gastrectomy and three cycles of chemotherapy) values of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and change of LMR (cLMR) were evaluated. A novel immunity change score (ICS) incorporated both preoperative LMR (pLMR) and cLMR was developed and its prognostic value was evaluated.Results cLMR was an independent predictor and patients with cLMR >1 after treatment had a favorable survival compared with the others (51 vs 31 months, P 1, or pLMR>4.53 and cLMR≤1); and ICS=3 (pLMR>4.53 and cLMR>1). Multivariate analysis revealed that the ICS was a significant independent biomarker ( P < 0.001). The performances of ICS in terms of the time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (t-ROC) curve and concordance index (C-index) analysis were better than those of pLMR and cLMR. Then we established a nomogram incorporated the ICS, CEA, and TNM stage to predict the 3- and 5- year survival. Decision curve analysis and calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.Conclusion The dynamic change of immune status is significantly associated with prognosis for LAGC patients. Combining with the cLMR and pLMR could improve the prognostication for LAGC patients.