Preoperative Prognostic Score for Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Undergoing Curative-Intent Resection

Preoperative inflammatory and nutrition-related markers-including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score-have shown prognostic relevance in various malignancies. However, their comparative utility in predicting recurrence and survival across clinically relevant subgroups in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) undergoing curative-intent resection remains unclear.

This retrospective study included 213 patients with histologically confirmed iCCA who underwent curative-intent resection between 2015 and 2021. Preoperative NLR, LMR, PNI, and CONUT scores were calculated from laboratory data obtained within one week before resection. Clinicopathological variables, recurrence, and survival outcomes were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods.

A preoperative NLR ≥ 2.4 was independently associated with poorer DFS (HR = 1.66, p = 0.025) and OS (HR = 1.94, p = 0.006). This effect remained significant in patients with R0 resection (DFS: HR = 1.66, p = 0.004; OS: HR = 2.11, p = 0.014) and in those who subsequently developed recurrence (OS: HR = 1.83, p = 0.004). The CONUT score was correlated with OS in both R0 and recurrent subgroups. Tumor morphology, consistent with prior reports, was identified as a postoperative pathological factor associated with worse prognosis.

Preoperative NLR was associated with poorer DFS and OS in iCCA patients undergoing curative-intent resection. This association was consistently observed in subgroups with R0 resection and in those who developed recurrence. Meanwhile, the CONUT score showed limited independent significance only among patients with R0 resection who experienced recurrence.