Dynamic changes in prognostic nutritional index and systemic immune-inflammation index predict survival following debulking surgery in ovarian cancer

TL;DR

Changes in nutritional and immune markers before and after surgery for ovarian cancer help predict patient survival outcomes.

Contribution

The study identifies postoperative PNI and preoperative SII as independent prognostic indicators for survival in ovarian cancer patients.

Findings

Postoperative PNI significantly decreased, while SII increased markedly after surgery.

Higher postoperative PNI predicted improved survival, while higher preoperative SII predicted worse survival.

ΔPNI and postoperative SII did not independently predict survival.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Increasing evidence suggests that host immunonutritional status and systemic inflammation—captured by the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII)—influence postoperative recovery and survival outcomes.

This retrospective study included 78 patients who underwent primary debulking surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer. Preoperative and 6-hour postoperative PNI and SII values were calculated, and ΔPNI was defined as the postoperative–preoperative difference. Associations with postoperative inflammatory markers and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Spearman correlation, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and Cox regression.

Postoperative PNI decreased significantly (49.3 → 34.1; p < 0.001), and SII increased markedly (964.7 → 4003.2; p < 0.001). Lower postoperative PNI and higher preoperative SII were associated with greater postoperative inflammatory response. In multivariate analysis, higher postoperative PNI independently predicted improved OS (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89–0.99; p = 0.021), while higher preoperative SII independently predicted worse OS (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.36; p = 0.037). ΔPNI and postoperative SII were not independently prognostic.

Postoperative PNI and preoperative SII provide complementary and independent prognostic information in patients undergoing primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer. ΔPNI reflects acute immunonutritional stress but does not independently predict survival. Given their accessibility and modifiability, these indices may support perioperative risk stratification and represent potential targets for future interventional studies.

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