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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Cancer Cell Biology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1573932
Neutrophil-and-Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is Positively Associated with Elevated Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels and High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Evidence from the NHANES (2003-2008)
Provisionally accepted- Northern Theater Command General Hospital, Shenyang, China
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Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignancy in men globally. The total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA) test is essential for PCa screening. The neutrophil-and-monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (NMLR) has emerged as a potential biomarker for various diseases, but its relationship with PCa and TPSA is yet to be studied. This research aims to explore the connection between NMLR and TPSA levels, as well as high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa), utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2003 to 2008. Methods: The study included 4,248 U.S. adult males. NMLR was calculated as the ratio of the combined counts of peripheral neutrophils and monocytes to the counts of peripheral lymphocytes. Weighted multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between NMLR, TPSA levels, and HRPCa. Results: A significant positive association was found between elevated NMLR levels and increased TPSA (β =0.35, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.49), as well as higher odds of HRPCa (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.55 to 2.68). Smooth curve fitting results indicate that there is a nonlinear positive correlation between NMLR and TPSA, as well as between NMLR and HRCa. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant relationship between NMLR, TPSA levels, and HRPCa odds among U.S. males, suggesting that NMLR could be a valuable biomarker for assessing PCa risk, underscoring inflammation's role in prostate health. Further research is encouraged to explore its applications in early detection, treatment efficacy evaluation and risk stratification.
Keywords: NMLR, TPSA, HRPCa, NHANES, Inflammation
Received: 10 Feb 2025; Accepted: 14 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gao, Jiang and Tian. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Ping Jiang, Northern Theater Command General Hospital, Shenyang, China
Renli Tian, Northern Theater Command General Hospital, Shenyang, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.