Pre-treatment systemic immune-inflammation represents a prognostic factor in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis, development and progression of lung cancer. The aim of the study is to assess the prognostic role of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), obtained by analyzing the neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts, and to design prognostic models for patients receiving first-line chemo- or targeted therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We conducted an analysis on 311 patients with advanced NSCLC, treated with first line chemoor targeted therapy till June 2015 at our Institution. Patients were stratified in two groups with SII ≥1,270 (Group A) vs. SII Results: At baseline, 179 patients had SII ≥1,270 (Group A), whilst 132 had lower SII (Group B). The median OS was 12.4 months in Group A and 21.7 months in Group B (P 1,270 were predictors of worst OS, whilst IV tumor stage was only slightly significant (P=0.08). Otherwise, only wild-type EGFR status and SII ≥1,270 were independent prognostic factors for worst PFS. Conclusions: Pre-treatment SII is an independent prognostic factor for patients with advanced NSCLC treated with first-line therapies.