Open AccessPredictive value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with anti–PD‐1 therapy
Author(s) -
Dharmapuri Sirish,
Özbek Umut,
Lin JungYi,
Sung Max,
Schwartz Myron,
Branch Andrea D.,
Ang Celina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.3135
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , gastroenterology , nivolumab , neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio , lymphocyte , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , immunotherapy , paleontology , biology
Background Currently, there are no recognized or validated biomarkers to identify hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC) likely to benefit from anti–PD‐1 therapy. We evaluated the relationship between neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and survival outcomes, pretreatment and after three doses (posttreatment) of nivolumab in HCC patients. Methods Medical records of HCC patients treated with nivolumab between June 2016 and July 2018 were reviewed. Kaplan‐Meier analysis and the log‐rank test were used to calculate and compare overall survival between NLR < 5 Vs ≥ 5 and among PLR tertiles. Results A total of 103 patients were identified. Median age was 66 (29‐89) years. Median treatment duration was 26 (2‐149) weeks. Sixty‐four (62%) patients had Child‐Pugh class A (CP‐A) liver function. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage was B in 20 (19%) and C in 83 (81%) patients. CP‐A patients who achieved a partial or complete response had significantly lower posttreatment NLR and PLR ( P < .001 for both) compared to patients who had stable disease or progression of disease. No relationship was observed between response and pretreatment NLR and PLR. NLR < 5 was associated with improved OS compared to NLR ≥ 5 both pretreatment (23 Vs10 months, P = .004) and posttreatment (35 Vs 9 months, P < .0001). Survival also differed significantly among PLR tertiles both pre‐ ( P = .05) and posttreatment ( P = .013). In a multivariable model, posttreatment NLR (HR = 1.10, P < .001) and PLR (HR = 1.002, P < .001) were strongly associated with survival. In a composite model of posttreatment NLR and PLR, a combination of high NLR and PLR was associated with an eightfold increased risk of death (HR = 8.3, P < .001). Conclusions This study suggests a strong predictive role of these inflammatory cell ratios in the posttreatment setting in HCC patients treated with anti anti–PD‐1 therapy and should be evaluated in a larger cohort.