Purpose: This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative absolute lymphocyte count (preALC) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after microwave ablation (MWA) and build a combined nomograph with clinical features to predict the local recurrence.
Patients and Methods: A total of 118 NSCLC patients who underwent microwave ablation were enrolled in this study. The median local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was 35.5 months. Independent prognostic factors obtained by multivariate analysis were included in the prediction model. The prognostic value of the model was assessed by the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (T-AUC).
Results: Histological subtype and preALC were independent risk factors for local relapse-free survival. According to the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (T-ROC), the optimal cut-off value of preALC was 1.965× 10⁹/L, the sensitivity was 0.837, and the specificity was 0.594. The area under the T-ROC curve (AUC) of preALC was 0.703. To establish a nomogram to predict the local recurrence rate of NSCLC after MWA based on the prognostic factors revealed by Cox regression.
Conclusion: Preoperative lymphocyte count reduction is associated with poor prognosis of NSCLC. The nomogram model combined with preALC can provide a good individualized prediction of local recurrence after microwave ablation.
Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, microwave ablation, nomogram, preoperative absolute lymphocyte count