Lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is associated with unfavorable prognosis of resected lung cancer

Abstract

ABSTRACT  Background: The association of preoperative red blood cell indexes in non-anemic patients undergoing lung resections for non-small-cell lung cancer with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) has never been investigated. Methods: We retrospectively examined the impact of preoperative red blood cell indexes on RFS and OS and the relationships between the indexes and clinicopathological factors in lung cancer. Results: A total of 649 patients were evaluated. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was showed as an independent prognostic factor in all patients for OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.697; 95% CI: 0.502–0.969; p = 0.032) and RFS (HR: 0.688; 95% CI: 0.519–0.914; p = 0.010). The mean corpuscular volume was an independent prognostic factor in all patients for OS (HR: 0.589; 95% CI: 0.380–0.912; p = 0.018), but not for RFS (HR: 0.684; 95% CI: 0.461–1.015; p = 0.059). Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is an independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in non-small-cell lung cancer.