ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1557652
Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR): a potential biomarker in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Provisionally accepted- 1Oncology Unit, Casa di Cura Villa Salus, Messina, Italy
- 2Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Sicily, Italy
- 3Clinical Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
- 4G. Pascale National Cancer Institute Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, Campania, Italy
- 5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Apulia, Italy
- 6Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- 7Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- 8SCDU Oncologia, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
- 9Medical Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Pio di Benevento, Benevento, Campania, Italy
- 10Oncology Operative Unit, Ospedale Santa Maria delle Grazie, Naples, Campania, Italy
- 11Oncology Division, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Frattamaggiore, Italy
- 12Medical Oncology, Hospital Mauritian Turin, Turin, Piedmont, Italy
- 13Precision Medicine Department, Medical Oncology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Campania, Italy
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Literature has shown that there is a correlation between increased circulatory inflammatory factors and negative prognosis, which can be evaluated through the using the neutrophil and lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The aim of this research is to investigate the predictive and prognostic role of the NLR in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) patients, treated with immunotherapy, and its correlation to the overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). his multicentric study coordinated by the Oncology Unit of University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, retrospectively analyzed data from 135 patients diagnosed with R/M HNSCC from 13 Italian oncological centers. Two groups were made using the median NLR value of 4.2. 71 patients (52.6%) had NLR>4 and 64 patients (47.4%) had NLR<=4. Mean OS of patients with NLR>4 was significantly shorter than that of patients with NLR<=4 (23.1 vs 37.4 months, p= 0.002). Univariable analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between OS and NLR value (p=0.002), and between OS and ECOG (p=0.022). Median PFS stratified by NLR value, was statistically significant: 6.5 vs 20 months in patients with NLR>4 and NLR<=4, respectively (p= 0.013O). ORR in the general population was 32.6%. NLR-stratified ORR confirmed the unfavorable prognostic role of high NLR: 20% if NLR<=4, and 12.5% if NLR>4. Basal NLR value lower than the cut-off of 4 is independently associated with better OS, PFS and ORR in patients with R/M HNSCC treated with immunotherapy, in first- or second- line.
Keywords: HNSCC, NLR, Immunotherapy, immunotherapy biomarkers, ICI
Received: 08 Jan 2025; Accepted: 14 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Caterino, Lo Giudice, Damiano, Perri, Giordano, Ciardiello, Mirabile, Pirozzi, Sponghini, Ricci, Montella, Addeo, VIGNANI, Famiglietti, Farese, Di Lorenzo, Ciardiello and Fasano. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Francesco Perri, G. Pascale National Cancer Institute Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, 80131, Campania, Italy
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