The Prognostic Value of Platelet–Lymphocyte Ratio, Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio, and Monocyte–Lymphocyte Ratio in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)—A Retrospective Single Center Study and a Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and pallets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are currently validated as cheap and accessible biomarkers in different types of solid tumors, including head and neck cancers (HNC). The purpose of the study: To evaluate the possible purposes and biomarker value of NLR, PLR, and MLR recorded pre-treatment (radiotherapy/chemotherapy) in HNC. Materials and methods: From 190 patients with HNC included in the oncology records in the oncology outpatient clinic of the Craiova County Emergency Hospital (from January 2002 to December 2022), 39 cases met the inclusion criteria (squamous cell carcinoma and the possibility to calculate the pre-treatment (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) value of NLR, PLR, and MLR. Overall survival (OS) values were correlated with NLR, PLR, and MLR. Results: The median values for NLR, PLR, and MLR were 6.15 (1.24–69), 200.79 (61.3–1775.0), and 0.53 (0.12–5.5), respectively. In the study, the mean values for NLR, PLR, and MLR of 2.88, 142.97, and 0.36, respectively, were obtained. The median OS in the study group was 11 months (1–120). Although a negative Pearson’s correlation was present, the relationship between the variables was only weak, with values of R = 0.07, p = 0.67, R = 0.02, p = 0.31, and R = 0.07, p = 0.62 being related to NLR, PLR, and MLR, respectively, in correlation with OS. The median values of NLR, PLR, and MLR were calculated (1.53, 90.32, and 0.18, respectively) for the HNC cases with pre-treatment values of NLR < 2 and for the HNC cases with NLR values ≥ 6 (23.5, 232.78, and 0.79, respectively). The median OS for cases with NLR < 2 and NLR ≥ 6 were 17.4 and 13 months, respectively. Conclusions: The comparative analysis of the data highlights a benefit to OS for cases low values of NLR. The role of not only borderline NLR values (between 2 and 6) as a prognostic marker in HNSCC but also the inclusion of PLR and MLR in a prognostic score must also be defined in the future. Prospective studies with more uniformly selected inclusion criteria could demonstrate the value of pre-treatment NLR, PLR, and MLR for treatment stratification through the intensification or de-escalation of non-surgical curative treatment in HNSCC.