DNA Methylation-Derived Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio: An Epigenetic Tool to Explore Cancer Inflammation and Outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Background: The peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cytologic marker of both inflammation and poor outcomes in patients with cancer. DNA methylation is a key element of the epigenetic program defining different leukocyte subtypes and may provide an alternative to cytology in assessing leukocyte profiles. Our aim was to create a bioinformatic tool to estimate NLR using DNA methylation, and to assess its diagnostic and prognostic performance in human populations.Methods: We developed a DNA methylation-derived NLR (mdNLR) index based on normal isolated leukocyte methylation libraries and established cell-mixture deconvolution algorithms. The method was applied to cancer case-control studies of the bladder, head and neck, ovary, and breast, as well as publi

SUBMITTER: Koestler DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5336518 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature