Biochemical parameters as clinical and survival indicators in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the HALP (hemoglobin × albumin × lymphocyte / platelet), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), and PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) indices in relation to postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, prolonged length of hospital stay, and mortality in patients undergoing surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additionally, their impact on overall survival (OS) was assessed. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of 442 patients who underwent anatomical or non-anatomical resection for histologically confirmed Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) between January 2018 and December 2024 at Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, was analyzed. Preoperative hematological and biochemical data were used to calculate HALP, NLR, and PLR scores. Cut-off values were determined using ROC curve analysis. Associations with postoperative outcomes were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models were employed for survival analyses. Results: Lower HALP scores and elevated NLR and PLR were independently associated with increased postoperative mortality, ICU admission (p<0.05 for all). The combined prognostic score yielded superior predictive accuracy. HALP score showed a significant positive correlation with overall survival. Conclusion: HALP, NLR, and PLR are accessible and cost-effective biomarkers with substantial prognostic utility in NSCLC patients undergoing surgery. Their integration into preoperative risk stratification protocols may enhance outcome prediction and facilitate tailored perioperative management strategies. Keywords: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, HALP score, Prognostic biomarkers, Surgical prognosis