Platelet distribution width (PDW) and red cell distribution width (RDW) are readily obtainable data, and are reportedly useful as prognostic indicators in some cancers. However, their prognostic significance is unclear in gastric cancer (GC). | Saito et al. BMC Cancer 2021 21 1317 https s12885-021-09043-5 RESEARCH Open Access Prognostic significance of the combination of preoperative red cell distribution width and platelet distribution width in patients with gastric cancer Hiroaki Saito1 2 Shota Shimizu2 Yuji Shishido2 Kozo Miyatani2 Tomoyuki Matsunaga2 and Yoshiyuki Fujiwara2 Abstract Background Platelet distribution width PDW and red cell distribution width RDW are readily obtainable data and are reportedly useful as prognostic indicators in some cancers. However their prognostic significance is unclear in gastric cancer GC . Methods We enrolled 445 patients with histopathological diagnoses of gastric adenocarcinoma who had under- gone curative surgeries. Results According to the optimal cut-off value of PDW and RDW by receiver operating characteristic ROC analysis we divided patients into PDWHigh PDWLow Saito et al. BMC Cancer 2021 21 1317 Page 2 of 9 heterogeneity in erythrocyte size and is widely used as Carcinoma was used to determine their clinicopatho- parameter for anemia 4 . Chronic inflammation and logic findings 9 . The number of patients were 310 poor nutrition are thought to increase RDW indicat- 82 and 53 in stage I II and IIII respectively. Patients ing that RDW also reflect inflammation and nutritional periodically visited outpatient clinics to take blood test status 5 7 . Because both inflammation and nutritional including tumor marker and diagnostic imaging such status are reportedly associated with cancer prognosis as esophagogastroduodenoscopy ultrasonography and PDW and RDW are being recently studied as prognostic computed tomography for early detection of recur- indicators for cancer patients. rence. PDW RDW serum level of carcinoembryonic Gastric cancer GC is the fifth leading cause of cancer antigen CEA and platelet count PC in the periph- deaths worldwide 8 . Although there are a few reports eral blood which were measured within 1 month before showing the
