Prognostic value of posttreatment neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by chemoradiotherapy

Publication date: Available online 4 June 2016
Source:Auris Nasus Larynx
Author(s): Do Young Kim, In Su Kim, Sang Gyu Park, Hyojeong Kim, Young Jin Choi, Young Mi Seol
ObjectiveAn inflammatory-immunological marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), was evaluated as a predictive marker of advanced head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.MethodsThis study included 104 patients with treatment-naïve head and neck cancer who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy. An inflammatory marker was measured at baseline and after 1 month of treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsA univariate analysis revealed that T,N-stage, the pre- and posttreatment NLRs were significant predictors of progression after the chemoradiotherapy. However, the posttreatment NLR remained an independent predictor of PFS in the multivariate analysis (HR=2.23, 95% CI 1.15–2.321; P=0.001). A high posttreatment NLR was significantly associated with an increased risk of death (HR=1.87, 95% CI 0.89–3.31; P=0.037).ConclusionA high posttreatment NLR is associated with poor prognostic factor. An early reduction in the NLR after treatment may indicate survival improvement in the patients.



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