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Prognostic role of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio in head and neck cancer: A meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Takenaka Yukinori,
Oya Ryohei,
Kitamiura Takahiro,
Ashida Naoki,
Shimizu Kotaro,
Takemura Kazuya,
Yamamoto Yoshifumi,
Uno Atsuhiko
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24986
Subject(s) - medicine , hazard ratio , neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio , head and neck cancer , oncology , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , confidence interval , cancer , lymphocyte , proportional hazards model
Background Neutrophils play substantial roles in cancer progression. Previous reports demonstrated the prognostic impact of the pretreatment neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in various types of solid cancers. The purpose of this study was to quantify the prognostic impact of NLR on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods We systematically searched electronic databases, identified articles regarding NLR and HNSCC mortality, and extracted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pooled HRs for overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) were estimated using random effect models. Results Nineteen studies enrolling 3770 patients were included in the analyses. Overall, NLR greater than the cutoff value was associated with poorer OS and DSS (HR 1.69; 95% CI 1.47‐1.93; P < .001 and HR 1.88; 95% CI 1.20‐2.95; P = .006, respectively). Conclusion Elevated NLR predicts worse outcomes in patients with HNSCC.