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BackgroundIncreased cancer-related inflammation has been associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. The combination of platelet count and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (COP-NLR) has related outcomes in several cancers, except for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study evaluated the prognostic value of COP-NLR in predicting outcome in NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Materials and methodsWe analyzed the data collected from 232 NPC patients. Pretreatment total platelet counts, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and COP-NLR score were evaluated as potential predictors. Optimal cutoff values for NLR and platelets were determined using receiver operating curve. Patients with both elevated NLR (>3) and platelet counts (>300×109/L) were assigned a COP-NLR score of 2; those with one elevated or no elevated value were assigned a COP-NLR a score of 1 or 0. Cox proportional hazards model was used to test the association of these factors and relevant 3-year survivals.ResultsPatients (COP-NLR scores 1 and 2=85; score 0=147) were followed up for 55.19 months. Univariate analysis showed no association between pretreatment NLR >2.23 and platelet counts >290.5×109/L and worse outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that those with COP-NLR scores of 0 had better 3-year disease-specific survival (P=0.02), overall survival (P=0.024), locoregional relapse-free survival (P=0.004), and distant metastasis-free survival (P=0.046). Further subgrouping by tumor stage also revealed COP-NLR to be an unfavorable prognostic indicator of 3-year failure-free survival (P=0.001) for locally advanced NPC.ConclusionCOP-NLR score, but not NLR alone or total platelet count alone, predicted survival in NPC patients treated with IMRT-based therapy, especially those with stage III/IVA, B malignancies.

While autogenous fat augmentation for glottic insufficiency has been used before, relatively little information is currently available on the effectiveness of fat injection in patients with nonparalytic glottic insufficiency resulting from problems such as various defects of vocal atrophy or sulcus vocalis. This paper compares retrospectively the efficiency of fat injection after surgery in patients with vocal atrophy (n = 16) and sulcus vocalis (n = 8). The perceptual acoustic and phonatory functions and videolaryngostroboscopic data were evaluated before and after fat augmentation in 24 patients. The mean follow-up time was 19.5 months. Fifteen patients displayed excellent results; 1 showed some improvement; 6 experienced postprocedure failure, and 2 were not available for follow-up analysis. Perceptual rating showed significant improvement in grade, roughness and breathiness (p < 0.05). The videolaryngostroboscopic rating showed significant improvements in vocal fold edge linearity, vocal fold vibration amplitude and mucosal wave excursion (p < 0.05). More improvement in vocal atrophy was observed compared with sulcus vocalis following fat injection procedures. Our research showed that middle defects improved more compared to those in the anterior and posterior area. Fat injection is an effective autogenous implant and may be considered as an option in the treatment of patients with vocal atrophy or sulcus vocalis. Although fat reabsorption was a problem, repeating the procedure could be considered.

Autogenous fat augmentation for glottic insufficiency has been used previously in patient treatment regimes. However, relatively little information is currently available regarding the effectiveness of fat injection for patients with vocal fold atrophy who have complete glottal closure (VFACGC). This paper compares, in retrospect, the efficiency of fat injection after surgery in patients with VFACGC (n=21). The perceptual acoustic and phonatory functions and videolaryngostroboscopic data were evaluated before and after fat augmentation was performed on 13 patients. Mean follow-up time was 9.5 months. Fifteen patients displayed excellent results, four experienced post-procedure failure, and two were unavailable for follow-up analysis. The majority of VFACGC patients (71%) also suffered from muscular tension dysphonia (MTD) preoperatively. The procedure also resolved the MTD in half (54%) of the patients in this study. Perceptual rating showed significant improvement in grade, roughness and breathiness (P<0.05). The videolaryngostroboscopic rating showed significant improvements in vocal fold edge linearity (P<0.01), vocal fold vibration amplitude and mucosal wave excursion (P<0.05). VFACGC is commonly misdiagnosed as MTD and is, therefore, unresponsive to speech therapy that is targeted to the latter. Fat injection is an effective autogenous implant and should be considered as an option in the treatment of patients with VFACGC. Although fat re-absorption was identified as a problem, repeating the procedure could be considered to minimize the effect of such.