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Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
Research Guide
What is Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis?
Inflammatory biomarkers in disease prognosis are measurable indicators of systemic inflammation, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein, that predict outcomes including survival and treatment response in cancers and other inflammatory conditions.
The field encompasses 45,363 papers examining inflammation's role in cancer progression, immunity, and metastasis through markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelets, and systemic immune-inflammation index. Templeton et al. (2014) in "Prognostic Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" found high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio associated with adverse overall survival across solid tumors. Hu et al. (2014) in "Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Predicts Prognosis of Patients after Curative Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma" developed the systemic immune-inflammation index from lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts to forecast hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Cancer Prognosis
This sub-topic evaluates the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a systemic inflammatory marker predicting survival and treatment response across solid tumors. Meta-analyses and cohort studies establish its prognostic thresholds.
Platelet Role in Cancer Metastasis and Thrombosis
Researchers study how platelets promote tumor cell survival, immune evasion, and metastatic seeding while linking inflammation to thrombotic events. Mechanisms include platelet-tumor aggregates and signaling pathways.
Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in Oncology
This area assesses the SII, combining platelets, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, for forecasting outcomes post-resection or chemotherapy. Validation occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma and other malignancies.
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunity
Studies standardize evaluation of TILs in breast and other cancers, correlating density and location with immunotherapy response. International guidelines facilitate reproducible scoring systems.
C-Reactive Protein in Cancer-Related Inflammation
This sub-topic examines CRP's role at inflammation sites, its elevation in cancer progression, and utility as a prognostic marker. Research links CRP to genetic instability and therapeutic resistance.
Why It Matters
Inflammatory biomarkers enable risk stratification and guide clinical decisions in oncology by predicting survival post-resection or chemotherapy response. Templeton et al. (2014) meta-analysis of solid tumors showed high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio linked to worse overall survival, supporting its integration into prognostic scores since it is inexpensive and readily available from blood tests. Hu et al. (2014) demonstrated the systemic immune-inflammation index outperformed other markers in predicting recurrence-free survival in 133 hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection, with higher index values correlating to poorer outcomes. Mantovani et al. (2008) in "Cancer-related inflammation" established inflammation as a driver of tumor progression, informing therapies targeting inflammatory pathways like those involving platelets and the tumor microenvironment.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Cancer-related inflammation" by Mantovani et al. (2008) provides the foundational overview of inflammation's mechanistic role in cancer, making it accessible for initial understanding before diving into specific biomarkers.
Key Papers Explained
Mantovani et al. (2008) "Cancer-related inflammation" establishes core mechanisms, which Colotta et al. (2009) "Cancer-related inflammation, the seventh hallmark of cancer: links to genetic instability" extends to genetic instability. Templeton et al. (2014) "Prognostic Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" quantifies neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio's broad applicability, while Hu et al. (2014) "Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Predicts Prognosis of Patients after Curative Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma" applies a composite index to liver cancer. Diakos et al. (2014) "Cancer-related inflammation and treatment effectiveness" connects these to therapy outcomes.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current research builds on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index for personalized prognosis in solid tumors, with focus on integrating platelets and tumor microenvironment markers. No recent preprints available, but extensions from top papers target immunotherapy response prediction.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer-related inflammation | 2008 | Nature | 11.1K | ✓ |
| 2 | Endothelial cell infection and endotheliitis in COVID-19 | 2020 | The Lancet | 6.5K | ✓ |
| 3 | Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Vascular Function, a... | 2003 | New England Journal of... | 3.4K | ✕ |
| 4 | Prognostic Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Solid Tum... | 2014 | JNCI Journal of the Na... | 3.1K | ✕ |
| 5 | The evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in bre... | 2014 | Annals of Oncology | 3.0K | ✓ |
| 6 | Cancer-related inflammation, the seventh hallmark of cancer: l... | 2009 | Carcinogenesis | 2.8K | ✕ |
| 7 | Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection | 2018 | Frontiers in Immunology | 2.8K | ✓ |
| 8 | Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Predicts Prognosis of Patie... | 2014 | Clinical Cancer Research | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 9 | Pyroptosis: mechanisms and diseases | 2021 | Signal Transduction an... | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 10 | Cancer-related inflammation and treatment effectiveness | 2014 | The Lancet Oncology | 2.1K | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in solid tumors?
High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio indicates adverse overall survival in many solid tumors, as shown in a systematic review and meta-analysis by Templeton et al. (2014). This ratio is a simple, inexpensive biomarker derived from routine blood counts. Its addition to existing prognostic models merits further clinical validation.
How does systemic immune-inflammation index predict hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes?
The systemic immune-inflammation index, calculated from lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, predicts prognosis after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hu et al. (2014) found it superior to other indices in a study of 133 patients. Higher values correlated with worse recurrence-free and overall survival.
What is the role of C-reactive protein in inflammation sites?
C-reactive protein increases up to 1,000-fold at infection or inflammation sites as an acute-phase reactant. Sproston and Ashworth (2018) described its dissociation into monomers at these locations. This property aids in local immune responses and disease monitoring.
How does cancer-related inflammation influence tumor progression?
Cancer-related inflammation contributes to genetic instability and acts as a hallmark linking immunity to tumor development. Mantovani et al. (2008) in "Cancer-related inflammation" outlined its mechanisms in cancer progression. Colotta et al. (2009) in "Cancer-related inflammation, the seventh hallmark of cancer: links to genetic instability" connected it to increased cancer risk in inflamed tissues.
What methods evaluate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer?
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are assessed in breast cancer using standardized pathological evaluation methods. Salgado et al. (2014) in "The evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer: recommendations by an International TILs Working Group 2014" provided international guidelines. Higher TIL levels associate with improved prognosis in certain subtypes.
Why are platelets involved in cancer metastasis prognosis?
Platelets contribute to systemic inflammatory responses that promote metastasis in cancer. The field highlights platelets alongside neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in prognostic models. Hu et al. (2014) incorporated platelet counts into the systemic immune-inflammation index for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can combinations of inflammatory biomarkers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index improve precision in multi-tumor prognostic models?
- ? What molecular pathways link platelet activation in inflammation to specific metastatic sites in solid tumors?
- ? In which cancer subtypes do tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes provide independent prognostic value beyond standard clinicopathological factors?
- ? How does variability in C-reactive protein dissociation at inflammation sites affect its reliability as a dynamic prognostic marker?
- ? What thresholds optimize systemic immune-inflammation index cutoffs for diverse patient populations post-cancer resection?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 45,363 works with established markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio from Templeton et al. and systemic immune-inflammation index from Hu et al. (2014) as standards.
2014No growth rate data or recent preprints/news indicate steady reliance on these validated indices without major shifts.
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