To evaluate the prognostic value of the absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count ratio (ALC/AMC ratio) at diagnosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we performed a meta-analysis of published studies that provided survival information with reference to the ALC/AMC ratio at diagnosis. Nine studies covering a total of 4198 subjects were included in this analysis. The summary hazard ratios of low ALC/AMC ratio for overall survival were 2.00 (p = 0.000) in the population that received R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and 1.12 (p = 0.479) in the population that received CHOP. The corresponding ratios for event-free survival and progression-free survival were 1.93 (p = 0.000) and 2.31 (p = 0.000) in the population that received R-CHOP. These results may justify risk-adapted therapeutic strategies for patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP to account for the ALC/AMC ratio at diagnosis.
Keywords: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; lymphocyte; meta-analysis; monocyte; prognosis.