The combined index of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet
(HALP) can reflect systemic inflammation and nutritional status
simultaneously, with some evidence revealing its prognostic value for
some tumors. However, the effect of HALP on recurrence-free survival
(RFS) in patients of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has not
been reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the
prognostic value of HALP in GIST patients. Methods Data from 591
untreated patients who underwent R0 resection for primary and localized
GISTs at West China Hospital between December 2008 and December 2016
were included. Clinicopathological data, preoperative albumin, blood
routine information, postoperative treatment, and recurrence status were
recorded. To eliminate the baseline inequivalence, the propensity scores
matching (PSM) method was introduced. The relationship between RFS and
preoperative HALP was investigated. Results The optimal cutoff value for
the HALP was determined by the x-Tile analysis at 31.5. HALP was
significantly associated with tumor site, tumor size, mitosis, Ki67, NIH
risk category and adjuvant therapy (all P<0.001). Before PSM,
GIST patients with an increased HALP had a significantly poor RFS (P
< 0.001), and low HALP was an independent risk factor for poor
RFS (HR=0.0551, 95% CI: 0.313 - 0.968, P=0.038). In NIH high-risk GIST
patients, GIST patients with low HALP had a worse RFS than patients with
high HALP (P<0.05). After PSM, 188 pairs of GIST patients were
identified, GIST patients with an increased HALP still had a
significantly poor RFS after PSM (P<0.001), and low HALP was
still an independent risk factor for poor RFS (HR=0.585, 95% CI: 0.316
- 0.972, P=0.042). Conclusions HALP had a statistically significant
correlation with postoperative pathology and postoperative treatment.
Furthermore, HALP has a strong ability to predict the RFS in GIST
patients with radical resection.