| خلاصه مقاله | Introduction:
Identifying simple, cost-effective prognostic biomarkers is crucial for optimizing management in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study investigates the hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR) as a potential predictor of overall survival.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 262 patients with LARC treated between February 2007 and March 2017 at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences-affiliated centers. HPR was calculated before any therapy using the formula: HPR = hemoglobin (g/dL) ÷ platelet count (×10³/μL). Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Breslow test.
Results:
The study population included 161 men and 101 women, with a median age of 59 years. HPR and platelet count showed no correlation with tumor stage, T category, or nodal involvement. Notably, patients with low HPR (≤0.05) had a median overall survival of 57 months, whereas those with high HPR (>0.05) had a median survival of 43 months (P = 0.02), indicating a significant association between pretreatment HPR and survival outcomes.
Discussion:
In this study, pretreatment hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR) emerged as an independent predictor of overall survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients with lower HPR had significantly worse survival, highlighting the potential of HPR as a simple, cost-effective biomarker (1,2). This finding aligns with previous evidence linking hematologic ratios to outcomes in colorectal malignancies, reflecting tumor-related inflammation and bone marrow response (3,4). HPR could therefore complement existing clinicopathologic factors in risk stratification and guide personalized management. Prospective validation is warranted to confirm these results and investigate underlying biological mechanisms (5).
Conclusion: Pretreatment HPR appears to be a simple, accessible, and independent prognostic marker in LARC, potentially aiding risk stratification and guiding clinical decision-making. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore underlying biological mechanisms |