Takeaway
Overall survival (OS) was significantly improved in patients with a pre-surgical red blood cell distribution width (RDW)-to-platelet ratio (RPR) <0.05. RPR is captured in routine laboratory values and a feasible personalized prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma (GBM).
Why this matters
The prognosis of newly-diagnosed GBM remains poor despite significant activity in the field. Tools to match patients to the most appropriate management strategies based on expected clinical benefit are essential.
RDW and RPR are routinely captured in pre-surgical GBM laboratory bloodwork and are known prognostic indicators in several diseases. Unlike traditional inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein or white blood cell count, these measures may be more precise and more robust to transient medications (e.g., glucocorticoids) and conditions (e.g., acute infection).
It is possible that pre-operative RPR could be associated with survival outcomes in patients with GBM.