Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Kinetics and Survival with Neoadjuvant Immuno-chemotherapy and Response-Stratified Chemoradiation in Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in curative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) may be hampered by therapeutic ablation of tumor-draining lymphatics with standard chemoradiation (CRT). Recent emergence of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in HNSCC highlights the need for biomarkers to optimize anti-tumor immunity while eliminating locoregional microscopic disease. An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may reflect an unfavorable balance between pro-tumor inflammation and anti-tumor immunity and is associated with poor immunotherapy outcomes, yet its role as a biomarker of neoadjuvant HNSCC immunotherapy is unknown.
Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: 258 Source Type: research