Can Prognostic Nutritional Index be a Prediction Factor in Esophageal Cancer?: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) can be used for survival predication in patients with esophageal cancer (EC). However, the prognostic value of PNI in EC is inconclusive in accordance to the literature. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prediction value of PNI in EC.

Methods: Studies focus on the association of PNI and EC were retrieved from the electronic databases. Standard meta-analysis methods were used for data evaluation.

Results: Our search yield 12 studies, involving 3118 patients with EC for data analysis. The pooled data suggested that low PNI was correlated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.11–1.50, P = 0.001) and cancer-specific survival (HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.68–2.83, P < 0.0001). Moreover, lower PNI was associated with unfavorable prognostic factors (the presence of lymph node metastasis, deeper tumor invasion and advanced TNM stages).

Conclusion: The lower PNI was correlated with unfavorable prognostic factor and poor prognosis in patients with EC.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to all the authors of the included studies. Guixiang Liao also claimed his thanks for his parents (Zehai Liao and Meiying Chen).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Shenzhen Health and Family Planning System Research (No. SZBC2017024), Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen (project number: JCYJ20170307095828424), and Cultivation Research for the Youth of Shenzhen People's Hospital (No. SYKYPY2019029).