Prognostic significance of Ki67 expression and the derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Figures & data

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Variable	Number	Percentage
Age (years)
Median (range)	47(27–79)
<45	19	42.2
≥45	26	57.8
Gender
Male	31	68.9
Female	14	31.1
T stage
T1/T2	9	20.0
T3/T4	36	80.0
N stage
N0–N2	34	75.6
N3	11	24.4
Clinical stage
I/II	3	6.7
III/IV	42	93.3
Smoking history
Nonsmoker	31	68.9
Smoker	14	31.1
Ki67 expression
Median (range)	70% (15–90%)
dNLR
Median (range)	1.67 (0.56–5.49)

Abbreviations: dNLR, derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio; N, node; T, tumor.

Figure 1 ROC curve analysis was performed to calculate the optimal cutoff value of Ki67 expression.

Note: The Ki67 expression of the farthest point away from the chance line was 77.5%.

Abbreviations: AUC, area under curve; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.

Figure 2 Association of Ki67 expression with overall survival (A) and progression-free survival (B).

Figure 3 Association of the dNLR with overall survival (A) and progression-free survival (B).

Abbreviation: dNLR, derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio.

Table 2 Associations of Ki67 and dNLR with disease variables

Variable	Ki67			dNLR
	Low	High	P-value	Low	High	P-value
Total	29 (64.4%)	16 (35.6%)		31 (68.9%)	14 (31.1%)
Age (years)			0.878			0.044
<45	12 (63.2%)	7 (36.8%)		10 (52.6%)	9 (47.4%)
≥45	17 (65.4%)	9 (34.6%)		21 (80.8%)	5 (19.2%)
Gender			0.32			0.253
Male	11 (78.6%)	3 (21.4%)		8 (57.1%)	6 (42.9%)
Female	18 (58.1%)	13 (41.9%)		23 (74.2%)	8 (25.8%)
T stage			1			0.04
T1/T2	6 (66.7%)	3 (33.3%)		9 (100%)	0 (0%)
T3/T4	23 (63.9%)	13 (36.1%)		22 (61.1%)	22 (61.1%)
N stage			0.43			0.954
N0–N2	23 (67.6%)	11 (32.4%)		24 (70.6%)	10 (29.4%)
N3	6 (54.5%)	5 (45.5%)		7 (63.6%)	4 (36.4%)
Clinical stage			0.542			0.541
I/II	3 (100%)	0 (0%)		3 (100%)	0 (0%)
III/IV	26 (61.9%)	16 (38.1%)		28 (66.7%)	14 (33.3%)
Smoking history			0.174			0.197
Nonsmoker	22 (71%)	9 (29%)		19 (61.3%)	12 (38.7%)
Smoker	7 (50%)	7 (50%)		12 (85.7%)	2 (14.3%)

Notes: Data presented as n (%). Bold figures indicate as statistics significance (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: dNLR, derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio; N, node; T, tumor.

Table 3 Multivariate analysis of the Cox risk ratio model for OS

Parameter	HR	95% CI	P-value
T stage	1.334	0.111–16.059	0.821
N stage	0.112	0.018–0.696	0.019
Smoking history	0.428	0.074–2.474	0.343
Ki67	0.116	0.014–0.975	0.047
dNLR	0.076	0.010–0.559	0.011

Note: Bold figures indicate as statistics significance (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; dNLR, derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio; HR, hazard ratio; N, node; OS, overall survival; T, tumor.

Table 4 Multivariate analysis of the Cox risk ratio model for PFS

Parameter	HR	95% CI	P-value
T stage	0.969	0.198–4.732	0.969
N stage	0.237	0.067–0.842	0.026
Smoking history	0.511	0.136–1.926	0.321
Ki67	0.203	0.051–0.811	0.024

Note: Bold figures indicate as statistics significance (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio; N, node; PFS, progression-free survival; T, tumor.

Figure 4 Kaplan–Meier survival curves for NPC patients concerning both Ki67 expression and dNLR.

Abbreviations: dNLR, derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma.