Association between CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio in peripheral blood before hepatectomy for liver cancer and patient prognosis

Objective To investigate the association between CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio in peripheral blood and patient prognosis after hepatectomy for liver cancer. Methods The clinical data of 150 patients who received partial hepatectomy for liver cancer in the 180 Hospital of PLA from October 2008 to November 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio in peripheral venous blood was measured before surgery,and the patients were divided into low- CD4~+/ CD8~+group( CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio ≤1,52 patients) and high- CD4~+/ CD8~+group( CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio > 1,98 patients). Clinical indices were compared between the two groups,and outpatient follow- up and telephone follow- up were applied to record survival rate and tumor recurrence. The chi- square test was applied for comparison between the two groups,and Kaplan- Meier method( log- rank test) was applied for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed for clinical factors to determine the related risk factors for recurrence after hepatectomy for liver cancer. Results The low- CD4 + / CD8 + group had significantly lower 1-,3-,and 5- year survival rates than the high- CD4~+/ CD8~+group( χ2= 36. 473,41. 983,and 55. 214,respectively; all P < 0. 001),and the 5- year survival rate differed significantly between the two groups( χ2= 81. 471;P < 0. 05); the low- CD4~+/ CD8~+group had significantly higher 1-,3-,and 5- year tumor recurrence rates than the high- CD4~+/CD8~+group( χ2= 44. 041,68. 234,and 55. 157,respectively; all P < 0. 05). Univariate analysis showed that CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio,tumor diameter,existence of satellite lesions,hepatitis B virus infection,depth of tumor invasion,microvascular invasion,lymph node metastasis,and degree of tumor differentiation were high risk factors for recurrence after resection of liver cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that CD4~+/CD8~+ratio,tumor diameter,degree of tumor differentiation,lymph node metastasis,and microvascular invasion were independent risk factors for recurrence after resection of liver cancer. Conclusion The patients with a CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio of ≤1 before resection of liver cancer have poor prognosis and high recurrence rates,and CD4~+/ CD8~+ratio has a certain predictive value for prognosis after resection of liver cancer.