Neutrophil and lymphocyte blood count as potential predictive indicators of nivolumab efficacy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer

Immunotherapy. 2020 Jul;12(10):715-724. doi: 10.2217/imt-2019-0154. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Abstract

Aim: We retrospectively evaluated the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) as prognostic factors in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab. Materials & methods: Medical records of 65 patients were reviewed. NLR and LMR were calculated at baseline (t0) and at first radiological tumor assessment (t1). Results: At univariate analysis, low NLR or high LMR values at t0 were associated with longer overall survival (p = 0.0001). At multivariate analysis including NLR and LMR at t0 and t1 and their trend, only NLR at t1 (p < 0.0001) and NLR trend (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with overall survival outcomes. Conclusion: Our study suggests that NLR value at first tumor assessment or NLR trend could be used as prognostic indicators during nivolumab treatment in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

Keywords: LMR; NLR; NSCLC; nivolumab; predictive factors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils / pathology*
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nivolumab