Abstract 952P
Background
The NLR has been reported to have a prognostic impact in cancers settings. In this study we aimed to assess the prognostic impact of NLR in a cohort of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancers (R/M HNC) treated with immunotherapy.
Methods
Patients with R/M HNC treated with immunotherapy anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) antibodies between 03/2015 and 08/2019 were included in this study. Baseline NLR was analyzed as a continuous variable and as dichotomous variable (≤5 vs. >5). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to evaluate the OS and PFS probabilities. Significance of Cox proportional hazards models were evaluated by log-rank test.
Results
73 patients (69 squamous cell carcinoma, 4 salivary carcinomas) were identified and included in the analysis. The median follow up was 19.0 months (0.9-50.0 months). 1-year and 1,5 year OS were 39.2%(IC95%: 26.3-51.8%) and 22.6%(IC95%: 10.8-37.1%). 1-year PFS was 10.5% (IC95%: 4.1-20.5%). In continuous variable OS significantly differed between groups NLR≤5 vs >5. NLR>5 was significantly associated with a poorer OS (HR:1.07; IC95%: [1,003-1,14]; p=0.041). With NLR statistically categorized: median OS was 11.6 months (IC95%: 6.6-17.9) for NLR≤5 vs 5.6 months (IC95% 4.0-8.8) for NLR >5 (HR:1.93; IC95%: [1,06-3,50]; p=0.029). No significant association was found between NLR and PFS.
Conclusions
NLR is a prognostic marker for immunotherapy efficacy in patients with R/M HNC. Baseline NLR alone could be used for prognosis in clinical practice.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Oscar Lambret Center.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.