Pilot study of DNA methylation-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and survival in pediatric medulloblastoma

Cancer Epidemiol. 2019 Apr:59:71-74. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.01.011. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Abstract

Introduction: Methylation-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (mdNLR) has been identified as a potential prognostic biomarker of outcomes in various cancers. We evaluated the prognostic value of blood-derived mdNLR within a retrospective cohort of pediatric medulloblastoma patients.

Materials and methods: DNA methylation was measured in archival peripheral blood samples collected on 56 pediatric medulloblastoma patients. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between mdNLR and survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results: Compared to patients who were alive at last follow-up (n = 43), the mean mdNLR value was slightly higher in deceased patients (n = 13) (12.3 vs. 5.2,P = 0.163). Elevated log-transformed mdNLR was suggestively associated with an increased likelihood of death in unadjusted models (HR=1.43, 95%CI: 0.92-2.22) and significantly associated with mortality in adjusted models (HR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.01-2.58).

Discussion: Future work is warranted to investigate the relationship between mdNLR outcomes in specific pediatric medulloblastoma molecular subgroups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / blood
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / blood
  • Medulloblastoma / diagnosis
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics*
  • Neutrophils
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies