Standardized pretreatment inflammatory laboratory markers and calculated ratios in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Analyzing the inflammatory microenvironment has become an important issue in the management of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Pretreatment C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, leucocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, platelets, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) derived from the peripheral blood were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined a cut-off value for each parameter in 146 patients with OSCC compared with 93 controls and the results were associated with clinicopathological characteristics. CRP expression of tumors was measured by immunohistochemistry. ROC analysis determined cut-off values for CRP levels, leucocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, NLR, dNLR, LMR, PLR and showed significant differences between the OSCC and control group. Compared with single laboratory tests calculated ratios were superior in measuring sensitivity and specificity of OSCC disease. NLR was significant directly associated and correlated with PLR. LMR was significant inversely associated and correlated with NLR and PLR. Immunohistochemical analysis did not show CRP expression of OSCCs. This study highlights the first analysis for cut-off values of pretreatment single laboratory tests and calculated ratios, which are strongly needed for a follow-up of cancer patients. Additionally, the calculated baselines can be used as a goal for successful immunotherapies in the future. The links between NLR, LMR, and PLR might be helpful for the clinical course (monitoring) of cancer patients and have been first described for OSCC in this study. Taken together, analyzing these data provides an additional practical guideline of further postoperative OSCC management.

Prognostic role of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio in head and neck cancer: A meta‐analysis

“…Tumor, stromal, and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment secrete cytokines to facilitate the development and release of bone‐marrow neutrophils, and the resultant neutrophilia can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HNSCC. Neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood are elevated in patients with laryngeal and oral cancer and can differentiate cancers from benign lesions in the larynx and oral cavity . Increased neutrophil counts were demonstrated to be a prognostic marker in patients with head and neck cancer .…”

“…Neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood are elevated in patients with laryngeal and oral cancer and can differentiate cancers from benign lesions in the larynx and oral cavity. [40][41][42] Increased neutrophil counts were demonstrated to be a prognostic marker in patients with head and neck cancer. 43 The prognostic capability of an increase in neutrophils in blood is further enhanced when the neutrophil count is shown as pretreatment NLR.…”

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic indicator in head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The PRISMA flow chart of the systematic review can be found in Figure . An initial search done using the search strategy (Supporting Materials) obtained an initial 900 results.…”

Platelet count and platelet‐lymphocyte ratio as prognostic markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Meta‐analysis

“…10 Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of numerous blood markers as prognostic factors for HNSCC, including serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen, 11 C-reactive protein, 12 serum transaminase, 13 and hematologic markers. Tissue specimens allow for the direct examination of tumor and stromal cells.…”

“…Moreover, blood markers are not affected by any heterogeneity within the tumor. 10 Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of numerous blood markers as prognostic factors for HNSCC, including serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen, 11 C-reactive protein, 12 serum transaminase, 13 and hematologic markers. 14 Platelet count and plateletlymphocyte ratio (PLR) are hematologic makers that have shown prognostic abilities across many types of cancers.…”