Abstract: Objective To assess the association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the prognosis of small-cell lung cancer in patients who received the standard treatment. Method A total of 50 cases of small-cell lung cancer pathologically diagnosed without surgery at the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university between January 2013 and March 2015 were included in this study. All patients were classified into two groups based on the median value of NLR. Various factors that might influence the prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results A total of 47 patients were followed up. The 1-year survival rate was 53.2%. In the low NLR group, 1-year survival rate was 83.3%. In the high NLR group, 1-year survival rate was 21.7%. Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage, ECOG, and the level of NLR were associated with survival (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified clinical stage and NLR as independent prognostic factors of patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion NLR may be an independent prognostic factor of small-cell lung cancer patients.