Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer differentiation via platelet to lymphocyte ratio

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study is to evaluate NLR and PLR inflammation markers in PCa and BPH. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data such as age, prostate volume, PSA, NLR, and PLR levels of 201 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Pathological sample results of these patients were categorized either as benign or malign. The benign group consisted of chronic prostatitis and BPH and the malign group of PCa. The PSA levels were divided into three categories as PSA: 0-4 ng/ml, PSA: 4-10 ng/ml, and 10 ng/ml and above. RESULTS: In the benign category, the mean PLR values for PSA: 0-4 ng/ml is 131.8 ± 31.2, for PSA: 4-10 ng/ml 124.7 ± 83.9 and 10 ng/ml and above 124 ± 53 in chronic prostatitis group and in the BPH group for PSA: 4-10 ng/ml 120.3 ± 45.1, for PSA: 4-10 ng/ml 126 ± 54,2, and 10 ng/ml and above 191.4 ± 176.1. In the malign category, the mean PLR values of PCa patients is for PSA: 0-4 ng/ml 122.8 ± 43.8, for PSA: 4-10 ng/ml 123 ± 43.8, and above 10 ng/ml 179.1 ± 94. Related to the variables of age, NLR, and mean prostate volume, there were no statistically significant differences. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean PLR values only if the PSA level was 10 ng/ml and above (p: 0.044) in the BPH and PCa groups. The correlation of the PCa Gleason score and PSA, NLR and PLR parameters in the malign category revealed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Effective malign and benign differentiation of prostate pathologies based on noninvasive inflammation biomarkers such NLR and PLR necessitate clinical studies with larger patient series.