Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio and Survival in Pembrolizumab-Treated Oropharyngeal Cancer
A widely available blood test ratio predicted poor immunotherapy response in certain head and neck cancers, helping identify patients unlikely to benefit.
In 64 R/M OPSCC patients treated with pembrolizumab at UCSF, a higher pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicted significantly poorer progression-free and overall survival, with the effect restricted to HPV-associated (p16+) disease. The NLR is a widely available, low-cost biomarker that may help identify patients unlikely to benefit from PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy.
What the study was
- Study design
- Retrospective cohort, single-center (UCSF), 2016-2022
- Population
- Recurrent/metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with pembrolizumab
- Sample size
- 64
- Category
- Diagnostics
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Head & Neck
Why it surfaced
Clinically useful finding (CBC-derived NLR as ICI response biomarker) in a specific head and neck cancer context. p16 stratification adds precision oncology value. Small n (64) and single-center limit conclusions; needs prospective validation.
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