Differential response of primary and metastatic melanomas to neutrophils attracted by IL-8

What prognostic factors have impacted the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with recurrent or metastatic oral cancer?

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely adapted for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (RM-HNC), and various studies on its prognostic factors have been reported. We aimed to elucidate the prognostic factors of ICI treatment for RM oral cancer (RM-OC) in a retrospective study.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with RM-OC treated with ICIs (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) at our department from May 2017 to February 2023. The objective response rate (ORR) for ICI treatment and the relationship between several potential prognostic factors, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

The investigation enrolled 31 patients, 16 with nivolumab and 15 with pembrolizumab. There were no significant differences in the ORR or disease control rate between the nivolumab and pembrolizumab groups (p = 0.4578 and 0.2524). In multivariate analysis, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) exhibited statistical correlations with PFS, whereas the use of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and PNI demonstrated statistical associations with OS.

CONCLUSION

Our findings imply that the use of antibiotics and PPIs, which can modify the gut microbiota, may also serve as a prognostic determinant for ICI treatment in RM-OC, consistent with previous studies. Additionally, PNI may be essential in affecting the survival rates of both PFS and OS and could be an exceedingly valuable inflammatory biomarker for RM-OC.

Citrullinated Histone H3, a Marker for Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Developing in Patients with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare severe hereditary skin disease characterized by skin and mucosa fragility, resulting in blister formation. The most severe complication in RDEB patients is the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), leading to premature death. There is a great deal of evidence suggesting a permissive tumor microenvironment (TME) as a driver of SCC development in RDEB patients. In a cohort of RDEB patients, we characterized the immune profiles of RDEB-SCCs and compared them with clinical, histopathological, and prognostic features. RDEB-SCCs were subdivided into four groups based on their occurrence (first onset or recurrences) and grading according to clinical, histopathological parameters of aggressiveness. Thirty-eight SCCs from 20 RDEB patients were analyzed. Five RDEB patients experienced an unfavorable course after the diagnosis of the first SCC, with early recurrence or metastasis, whereas 15 patients developed multiple SCCs without metastasis. High-risk primary RDEB-SCCs showed a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the tumor microenvironment and an increased proportion of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Additionally, citrullinated histone H3, a marker of NETs, was increased in the serum of RDEB patients with high-risk primary SCC, suggesting that this modified form of histone H3 may serve as a potential blood marker of unfavorable prognosis in RDEB-SCCs.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as an assessment tool to differentiate between uterine sarcoma and myoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the potential value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an assessment tool in the clinical distinction between uterine sarcoma and uterine leiomyoma.

METHODS

We comprehensively searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for relevant papers published before March 19, 2023. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was provided, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The random-effects model was employed to derive pooled effects due to the high levels of heterogeneity. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for the quality assessment. Our study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023478331).

RESULTS

Overall, seven articles were included in the analysis. A random-effect model revealed that patients with uterine sarcoma had higher NLR levels compared to those with uterine myoma (SMD = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.22-0.98; p = 0.002). In the subgroup analysis according to sample size, we found that patients with uterine sarcoma had elevated levels of NLR compared to those with uterine myoma in either large studies (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.04-1.13; P < 0.001) or small studies (SMD = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.33-0.96; P = 0.32). In the sensitivity analysis, we found that the final result was not significantly changed when single studies were removed, suggesting that the finding of this meta-analysis was stable. The pooled sensitivity of NLR was 0.68 (95% CI = 0.61-0.73), and the pooled specificity was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.59-0.69).

CONCLUSION

NLR might be utilized as an assessment tool in clinics to help clinicians differentiate between patients with uterine sarcoma and those with myoma.

Association between systemic immune-inflammatory markers and the risk of moyamoya disease: a case-control study

Background:Systemic immune-inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) are associated with the prognosis of many cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. Moyamoya disease (MMD) is associated with inflammation, but the relationship between systemic immune-inflammatory markers between MMD is unclear. The aim of our study was to analyse the association between systemic immune-inflammatory markers and the risk of MMD and its subtypes.Methods:We consecutively recruited 360 patients with MMD and 89 healthy control subjects in a case-control study to calculate and analyse the association of systemic immune-inflammatory markers with the risk of MMD and its subtypes.Results:The risk of MMD increased with higher levels of NLR (OR 1.237, 95% CI [1.008, 1.520], p = .042). When NLR and SII were assessed as quartile-spaced subgroups, the third quartile grouping of NLR and SII had a higher risk of MMD than the first quartile grouping (NLR: OR 3.206, 95% CI [1.271, 8.088], p = .014; SII: OR 3.074,95% CI [1.232,7.672], p = .016). When NLR was combined with SII, the highest subgroup had a higher risk of MMD than the lowest subgroup (OR2.643, 95% CI [1.340, 5.212], p = .005). The risk of subtypes also increased with higher levels of NLR and SII. The association between the levels of NLR and SII with the staging of the Suzuki stage follows an inverted U-shape. The highest levels of NLR and SII were found in patients with MMD at Suzuki stages 3-4.Conclusion:The risk of MMD increases with elevated systemic immune-inflammatory markers. This study analysed the association of systemic immune-inflammatory markers with the risk of developing MMD and its subtypes, and identified novel inflammatory markers for MMD.

Advances in immunology and immunotherapy for mesenchymal gastrointestinal cancers

Mesenchymal gastrointestinal cancers are represented by the gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) which occur throughout the whole gastrointestinal tract, and affect human health and economy globally. Curative surgical resections and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the main managements for localized GISTs and recurrent/metastatic GISTs, respectively. Despite multi-lines of TKIs treatments prolonged the survival time of recurrent/metastatic GISTs by delaying the relapse and metastasis of the tumor, drug resistance developed quickly and inevitably, and became the huge obstacle for stopping disease progression. Immunotherapy, which is typically represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has achieved great success in several solid tumors by reactivating the host immune system, and been proposed as an alternative choice for GIST treatment. Substantial efforts have been devoted to the research of immunology and immunotherapy for GIST, and great achievements have been made. Generally, the intratumoral immune cell level and the immune-related gene expressions are influenced by metastasis status, anatomical locations, driver gene mutations of the tumor, and modulated by imatinib therapy. Systemic inflammatory biomarkers are regarded as prognostic indicators of GIST and closely associated with its clinicopathological features. The efficacy of immunotherapy strategies for GIST has been widely explored in pre-clinical cell and mouse models and clinical experiments in human, and some patients did benefit from ICIs. This review comprehensively summarizes the up-to-date advancements of immunology, immunotherapy and research models for GIST, and provides new insights and perspectives for future studies.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and hypopharyngeal cancer prognosis: System review and meta-analysis

Several studies have reported the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer. However, contradictory findings have also been published. We aimed to clarify the effect of NLR on the prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer through meta-analysis. Systematic search of PubMed and other database with study selection and data extraction. The combined hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using STATA, applying either a fixed-effects or random-effects model. Meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were used to analyze sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias were also assessed. This meta-analysis included 2232 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer from seven studies. The combined HR (OS, HR = 1.80, 95CI%, 1.14-2.82; PFS, HR = 1.88, 95CI%, 1.26-2.79) suggested that high NLR was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pretreatment NLR can be used as an effective serological indicator to assess the prognosis of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.

Cuproptosis-associated CDKN2A is targeted by plicamycin to regulate the microenvironment in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the most common malignancy of the head and neck, has an overall 5-year survival rate of <50%. Genes associated with cuproptosis, a newly identified copper-dependent form of cell death, are aberrantly expressed in various tumours. However, their role in HNSCC remains unknown. In this study, bioinformatic analysis revealed that the cuproptosis-related gene CDKN2A was correlated with the malignant behaviour of HNSCC. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves showed that patients with high CDKN2A expression had a better prognosis. Multiomic analysis revealed that CDKN2A may be associated with cell cycle and immune cell infiltration in the tumour microenvironment and is important for maintaining systemic homeostasis in the body. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggested strong binding between plicamycin and CDKN2A. And plicamycin inhibits the progression of HNSCC in cellular assays. In conclusion, this study elucidated a potential mechanism of action of the cuproptosis-associated gene CDKN2A in HNSCC and revealed that plicamycin targets CDKN2A to improve the prognosis of patients.

Strategies to overcome myeloid cell induced immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment

Cancer progression and metastasis due to tumor immune evasion and drug resistance is strongly associated with immune suppressive cellular responses, particularly in the case of metastatic tumors. The myeloid cell component plays a key role within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and disrupts both adaptive and innate immune cell responses leading to loss of tumor control. Therefore, strategies to eliminate or modulate the myeloid cell compartment of the TME are increasingly attractive to non-specifically increase anti-tumoral immunity and enhance existing immunotherapies. This review covers current strategies targeting myeloid suppressor cells in the TME to enhance anti-tumoral immunity, including strategies that target chemokine receptors to deplete selected immune suppressive myeloid cells and relieve the inhibition imposed on the effector arms of adaptive immunity. Remodeling the TME can in turn improve the activity of other immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell therapies in immunologically "cold" tumors. When possible, in this review, we have provided evidence and outcomes from recent or current clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of the specific strategies used to target myeloid cells in the TME. The review seeks to provide a broad overview of how myeloid cell targeting can become a key foundational approach to an overall strategy for improving tumor responses to immunotherapy.

Prognostic Value of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) in Patients with Glioblastoma: A Comprehensive Study Based on Meta-Analysis and Retrospective Single-Center Analysis

Inflammation is related to cancer. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been linked to the prognosis of many types of cancer. The present study aimed to determine the prognostic value of the SII in glioblastoma (GBM) patients based on meta-analysis and single-center retrospective analysis. Relevant publications published before 1 October 2022 were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, and Web of Science. Moreover, 208 GBM patients from Zhongnan Hospital were incorporated. Kaplan−Meier and Cox regression analyses determined the prognostic significance of inflammatory markers. By combining these indicators, we developed scoring systems. Nomograms were also built by incorporating independent variables. The accuracies of nomograms were evaluated by Harrell’s concordance index (c-index) and the calibration curve. According to meta-analysis, an elevated SII predicted the worst overall survival (OS) (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a higher SII (>510.8) (HR = 1.782, p = 0.007) also predicted a poorer outcome in a retrospective cohort. The scoring systems of SII-NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) showed the best predictive power for OS. The nomogram without MGMT (c-index = 0.843) exhibited a similar accuracy to that with MGMT (c-index = 0.848). A pre-treatment SII is independently associated with OS in GBM. A nomogram integrating the SII-NLR score may facilitate a comprehensive survival evaluation independent of molecular tests in GBM.

The values of systemic immune-inflammation index and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in predicting testicular germ cell tumors: A retrospective clinical study

Purpose

To determine whether complete blood count (CBC) based inflammatory parameters can be used as markers predicting testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT).

Material and methods

Between 2013 to 2018 the data of 58 patients with testicular TGCT undergoing radical orchiectomy and 54 malignancy-free healthy men were retrospectively analyzed as tumor group and control group. Patient baseline characteristics including age, pathological stage and pre-surgery CBC based inflammatory parameters including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), lymphocyte ratio (LR), neutrophil ratio (NR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were analyzed and compared between tumor group and control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used analyzing data with significantly difference to assess the discriminative ability of the markers for TGCT, area under the curve (AUC), cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. The binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between significant inflammatory markers and risk of TGCT.

Results

Mean age of the tumor and control group was 41.1 ± 15.36 and 44.89 ± 9.2 years, respectively. Mean NLR, SII and RDW were significantly higher in tumor group compared with control group with P=0.005, P=0.001 and P=0.016, respectively; there were no significantly differences of age, PLR, LMR, LR, NR, MPV and RDW between groups. The ROC curve for NLR, SII and RDW was plotted in the diagnosis of TGCT and tumor progression, the cut-off value for NLR, SII and RDW were found as 3.38 (AUC: 0.704, sensitivity=51.4%, specificity=88.6%, P=0.003), 881.24 (AUC: 0.725, sensitivity=45.7%, specificity=91.4%, P=0.001) and 0.14 (AUC: 0.63, sensitivity=28.6%, specificity=97%, P=0.063), respectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the threshold values, respectively. By using the multivariable logistic regression models, NLR ≥ 3.38 (OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.67-20.65, P=0.006) and SII ≥ 881.24 (OR, 4.89; 95% CI, 1.48-15.32, P=0.009) were independent risk factors predicting TGCT. Significantly statistical difference of pathological stage was also found between groups with respect to NLR cut-off values (P=0.034) and SII cut-off values (P=0.049). Combined the data together, NLR and SII both exhibited good differential diagnosis potential which could be used as markers predicting the TGCT.

Conclusion

As the CBC based inflammation parameters, both NLR and SII could be used as effective tumor markers predicting the TGCT, and higher NLR and SII are associated with higher pathological stage. In addition, SII is a more powerful tool among these two inflammatory markers.

Noninvasive imaging of the tumor immune microenvironment correlates with response to immunotherapy in gastric cancer

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is associated with tumor prognosis and immunotherapy response. Here we develop and validate a CT-based radiomics score (RS) using 2272 gastric cancer (GC) patients to investigate the relationship between the radiomics imaging biomarker and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the TIME, including its correlation with prognosis and immunotherapy response in advanced GC. The RS achieves an AUC of 0.795-0.861 in predicting the NLR in the TIME. Notably, the radiomics imaging biomarker is indistinguishable from the IHC-derived NLR status in predicting DFS and OS in each cohort (HR range: 1.694-3.394, P < 0.001). We find the objective responses of a cohort of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy patients is significantly higher in the low-RS group (60.9% and 42.9%) than in the high-RS group (8.1% and 14.3%). The radiomics imaging biomarker is a noninvasive method to evaluate TIME, and may correlate with prognosis and anti PD-1 immunotherapy response in GC patients.

Prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase in melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed promising therapeutic efficacy on melanoma. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed predictive values on prognosis of various tumors, but not on melanoma yet. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the prognostic role of NLR and LDH levels in melanoma treated with ICIs.

METHODS

A search was conducted for all reports published till March 2020 in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). Studies were included if they investigated the association between pretreatment NLR/LDH and prognosis in melanoma patients treated with ICIs. Subgroup analysis, publication bias, and meta-regression were conducted to investigate heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 6817 melanoma patients were included. Overall, high pretreatment NLR and LDH were associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P < .001) and PFS (P < .001). Subgroup analyses revealed that elevated NLR and LDH levels were associated with poor OS and PFS in patients treated with anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 alone. NLR level was superior in predicting OS if compared with LDH level in patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 + anti-CTLA-4. In subgroup analysis stratified by cutoff value, high NLR level was associated with poor OS and PFS regardless of cutoff value, but LDH works when cutoff value = upper normal limit (UNL). The predictive value of NLR and LDH levels on OS and PFS was partially compromised in the Asian populations, compared with the Western countries.

CONCLUSION

Blood NLR and LDH levels showed great potential to be used as early prognostic biomarkers in melanoma patients treated with ICIs.

Prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in laryngeal cancer: What should we expect from a meta-analysis?

Background

Although many studies have shown the predictive value of the high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for various cancers, there are conflicting reports regarding their role in laryngeal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between high NLR/PLR and laryngeal cancer prognosis with the help of meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Embase and other databases were used to search relevant studies. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using either the random-effect-model or fixed-effect model. Sensitivity analyses and subgroups were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was also adopted.

Result

5716 patients from 20 studies were involved in this meta-analysis. Pooled observed survival (OS) (HR=1.70, 95%CI, 1.41-2.04, p<0.001), progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=1.81, 95%CI, 1.47-2.23, p<0.001), and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR=1.86, 95%CI, 1.45-2.38, p<0.001) showed the prediction of high NLR for poor prognosis. It also suggested that high PLR predicted poor OS (HR=1.89, 95%CI, 1.21-2.94, p<0.001).

Conclusion

This study indicated that high NLR was associated with poor OS, PFS, and DFS in laryngeal cancer patients, and high PLR was related to poor OS. Both could be potential predictors of prognosis.

Tumor regionalization after surgery: Roles of the tumor microenvironment and neutrophil extracellular traps

Surgery is unanimously regarded as the primary strategy to cure solid tumors in the early stages but is not always used in advanced cases. However, tumor surgery must be carefully considered because the risk of metastasis could be increased by the surgical procedure. Tumor surgery may result in a deep wound, which induces many biological responses favoring tumor metastasis. In particular, NETosis, which is the process of forming neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), has received attention as a risk factor for surgery-induced metastasis. To reduce cancer mortality, researchers have made efforts to prevent secondary metastasis after resection of the primary tumor. From this point of view, a better understanding of surgery-induced metastasis might provide new strategies for more effective and safer surgical approaches. In this paper, recent insights into the surgical effects on metastasis will be reviewed. Moreover, in-depth opinions about the effects of NETs on metastasis will be discussed.

Therapies that limit the formation of web-like structures formed by white cells known as neutrophils may lower the risk of cancer spread (metastasis) following surgical tumor removal. Removing solid tumors remains a key cancer treatment, but in some cases surgery itself increases the risk of metastasis. Jong-Wan Park at Seoul National University, South Korea, and co-workers reviewed current understanding of metastasis following surgery. Surgical removal destroys the architecture supporting cancer cells but this can release tumor cells into blood vessels. The stress of deep wounds also affects immune responses, most notably neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), web-like structures formed by neutrophils to trap and kill pathogens. NETs have previously been implicated in metastasis. In a post-surgical environment enriched in neutrophils and pro-inflammatory cytokines, NET formation may help cancer cells thrive, promoting metastasis.

Utility of prognostic nutritional index and systemic immune-inflammation index in oral cancer treatment

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of inflammation-based prognostic scores (IBPS) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in the treatment of oral cancer patients.

METHODS

For the 183 patients enrolled in this study, IBPS and SII were calculated from peripheral blood samples obtained before and after treatment and at the time of relapse. We examined overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) using previously reported cut-off values for IBPS. Cut-off values of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were analyzed as NLR 1.79, PLR 114.97, LMR 5, and PNI 52.44. The cut-off value for SII was set at 569. OS and DFS were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier methods using the cutoff of each IBPS and SII. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards were performed for OS and DFS.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier methods showed the high-PNI group showed good prognosis including OS and DFS, while the high-SII group displayed poor DFS. Univariate analysis showed that pre-treatment high PNI and low SII were significantly associated with better prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified pre-treatment PNI as independently associated with OS. For DFS, univariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that pre-treatment high NLR and high SII were significantly associated with worse prognosis, while high PNI was significantly associated with better prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified pre-treatment PNI and SII as independently associated with DFS. Parameters of PNI and SII components were compared between pre-treatment, post-treatment and at relapse in the high- and low-PNI groups. PNI was predominantly decreased in both high- and low-PNI groups at post-treatment and at relapse compared to pre-treatment. This trend was also observed for albumin.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher pre-treatment PNI was associated with better OS, while lower pre-treatment PNI and higher treatment SII were associated with poorer DFS in oral cancer patients. Our data indicated that PNI and SII might offer useful biomarkers for gauging prognosis and the efficacy of conventional therapies.

Therapeutic targeting of SPIB/SPI1-facilitated interplay of cancer cells and neutrophils inhibits aerobic glycolysis and cancer progression

BACKGROUND

As a metabolic reprogramming feature, cancer cells derive most of their energy from aerobic glycolysis, while its regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic strategies continue to be illusive.

METHODS

Integrative analysis of publically available expression profile datasets was used to identify critical transcriptional regulators and their target glycolytic enzymes. The functions and acting mechanisms of transcriptional regulators in cancer cells were investigated by using in vitro and in vivo assays. The Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank assay were used to conduct the survival study.

RESULTS

Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1/PU.1), a haematopoietic transcription factor, was identified to facilitate glycolytic process, tumourigenesis, invasiveness, as well as metastasis of colon cancer cells, which was interplayed by tumour-associated neutrophils. Mechanistically, neutrophils delivered SPI1 mRNA via extracellular vesicles, resulting in enhanced SPI1 expression of cancer cells. Through physical interaction with SPI1-related protein (SPIB), SPI1 drove expression of glycolytic genes within cancer cells, which in turn induced polarization of neutrophils via glycolytic metabolite lactate. Depletion of neutrophils or SPIB-SPI1 interaction in cancer cells significantly inhibited glycolytic process, tumourigenesis and aggressiveness. Upregulation of SPI1 or SPIB was found to be associated with poor prognosis in patients suffering from colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic targeting of SPIB/SPI1-facilitated interplay of cancerous cells and neutrophils suppresses aerobic glycolysis and progression of cancer.

Leveling Up the Controversial Role of Neutrophils in Cancer: When the Complexity Becomes Entangled

Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell in the circulation of human and act as gatekeepers to discard foreign elements that have entered the body. They are essential in initiating immune responses for eliminating invaders, such as microorganisms and alien particles, as well as to act as immune surveyors of cancer cells, especially during the initial stages of carcinogenesis and for eliminating single metastatic cells in the circulation and in the premetastatic organs. Since neutrophils can secrete a whole range of factors stored in their many granules as well as produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species upon stimulation, neutrophils may directly or indirectly affect carcinogenesis in both the positive and negative directions. An intricate crosstalk between tumor cells, neutrophils, other immune cells and stromal cells in the microenvironment modulates neutrophil function resulting in both anti- and pro-tumor activities. Both the anti-tumor and pro-tumor activities require chemoattraction towards the tumor cells, neutrophil activation and ROS production. Divergence is seen in other neutrophil properties, including differential secretory repertoire and membrane receptor display. Many of the direct effects of neutrophils on tumor growth and metastases are dependent on tight neutrophil–tumor cell interactions. Among them, the neutrophil Mac-1 interaction with tumor ICAM-1 and the neutrophil L-selectin interaction with tumor-cell sialomucins were found to be involved in the neutrophil-mediated capturing of circulating tumor cells resulting in increased metastatic seeding. On the other hand, the anti-tumor function of neutrophils was found to rely on the interaction between tumor-surface-expressed receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Cathepsin G expressed on the neutrophil surface. Intriguingly, these two molecules are also involved in the promotion of tumor growth and metastases. RAGE is upregulated during early inflammation-induced carcinogenesis and was found to be important for sustaining tumor growth and homing at metastatic sites. Cathepsin G was found to be essential for neutrophil-supported lung colonization of cancer cells. These data level up the complexity of the dual role of neutrophils in cancer.

Roles of Neutrophils in Glioma and Brain Metastases

Neutrophils, which are the most abundant circulating leukocytes in humans, are the first line of defense against bacterial and fungal infections. Recent studies have reported the role and importance of neutrophils in cancers. Glioma and brain metastases are the most common malignant tumors of the brain. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in the brain is complex and unique owing to the brain-blood barrier or brain-tumor barrier, which may prevent drug penetration and decrease the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, there are limited studies on the correlation between brain cancer and neutrophils. This review discusses the origin and functions of neutrophils. Additionally, the current knowledge on the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and prognosis of glioma and brain metastases has been summarized. Furthermore, the implications of tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) phenotypes and the functions of TANs have been discussed. Finally, the potential effects of various treatments on TANs and the ability of neutrophils to function as a nanocarrier of drugs to the brain TME have been summarized. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the complex interactions between neutrophils, other immune cells, and brain tumor cells.

Body Mass Index Alters the Predictive Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Systemic Inflammation Response Index in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a frequent cancer subtype among head and neck cancers. Exacerbated inflammation and nutritional deficit are common features in this type of cancer and can be used as a prognostic marker. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) on overall survival (OS) of LSCC patients. In this retrospective cohort study, 168 patients were followed for 5 years. Data on clinical factors, patients' life habits, height, weight, and hematological parameters were collected. BMI, NLR, and SIRI were calculated. Pretreatment NLR≥ 2.02 and SIRI≥ 1160.85 were independent prognostic factors for poor OS. Low BMI did not significantly affect the OS. However, the inflammatory parameters had their predictive capacity altered when stratified by the BMI classification. NLR≥ 2.02 + Low BMI or SIRI≥ 1160.85 + Low BMI increased in 8.6 and 3.8 times the risk of death, respectively. In contrast, stratification by normal/high BMI classification eliminated the predictive capacity of NLR and SIRI. Here, we demonstrated the possible ability of BMI to change the prognostic capacity of inflammatory markers NLR and SIRI in patients with LSCC.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1952447.

PRMT5 control of cGAS/STING and NLRC5 pathways defines melanoma response to antitumor immunity

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) controls diverse cellular processes and is implicated in cancer development and progression. Here, we report an inverse correlation between PRMT5 function and antitumor immunity. PRMT5 expression was associated with an antitumor immune gene signature in human melanoma tissue. Reducing PRMT5 activity antagonized melanoma growth in immunocompetent but not immunocompromised mice. PRMT5 methylation of IFI16 [interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-inducible protein 16] or its murine homolog IFI204, which are components of the cGAS/STING (stimulator of IFN genes) pathway, attenuated cytosolic DNA-induced IFN and chemokine expression in melanoma cells. PRMT5 also inhibited transcription of the gene encoding NLRC5 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family caspase recruitment domain containing 5), a protein that promotes the expression of genes implicated in major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) antigen presentation. PRMT5 knockdown augmented IFN and chemokine production and increased MHCI abundance in melanoma. Increased expression of IFI204 and NLRC5 was associated with decreased melanoma growth in murine models, and increased expression of IFI16 and NLRC5 correlated with prolonged survival of patients with melanoma. Combination of pharmacological (GSK3326595) or genetic (shRNA) inhibition of PRMT5 with immune checkpoint therapy limited growth of murine melanoma tumors (B16F10 and YUMM1.7) and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, compared with the effect of either treatment alone. Overall, our findings provide a rationale to test PRMT5 inhibitors in immunotherapy-based clinical trials as a means to enhance an antitumor immune response.

A Novel Nomogram Based on Machine Learning-Pathomics Signature and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio for Survival Prediction of Bladder Cancer Patients

Traditional histopathology performed by pathologists through naked eyes is insufficient for accurate survival prediction of bladder cancer (BCa). In addition, how neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be used for prognosis prediction of BCa patients has not been fully understood. In this study, we collected 508 whole slide images (WSIs) of hematoxylin-eosin strained BCa slices and NLR value from the Shanghai General Hospital and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), which were further processed for nuclear segmentation. Cross-verified prediction models for predicting clinical prognosis were constructed based on machine learning methods. Six WSIs features were selected for the construction of pathomics-based prognosis model, which could automatically distinguish BCa patients with worse survival outcomes, with hazard ratio value of 2.19 in TCGA cohort (95% confidence interval: 1.63-2.94, p <0.0001) and 3.20 in General cohort (95% confidence interval: 1.75-5.87, p = 0.0014). Patients in TCGA cohort with high NLR exhibited significantly worse clinical survival outcome when compared with patients with low NLR (HR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.29-3.27, p <0.0001). External validation in General cohort also revealed significantly poor prognosis in BCa patients with high NLR (HR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.83-7.44 p <0.0001). Univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis proved that both the MLPS and the NLR could act as independent prognostic factor for overall survival of BCa patients. Finally, a novel nomogram based on MLPS and NLR was constructed to improve their clinical practicability, which had excellent agreement with actual observation in 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival prediction. Decision curve analyses both in the TCGA cohort and General cohort revealed that the novel nomogram acted better than both the tumor grade system in prognosis prediction. Our novel nomogram based on MLPS and NLR could act as an excellent survival predictor and provide a scalable and cost-effective method for clinicians to facilitate individualized therapy. Nevertheless, prospective studies are still needed for further verifications.

Early myelostimulation in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer after fluorouracil plus platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is related to poor prognosis

PURPOSE

Some cancer patients experience an increase in the leukocyte count, platelet count, and absolute neutrophil count compared to the baseline level after chemotherapy. We identify this phenomenon as "myelostimulation", which seems to go against the myelosuppression properties of chemotherapy drugs. However, the clinical value of "myelostimulation" that appears early after fluorouracil plus platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains unclear.

METHOD

Patients with LAGC who underwent fluorouracil plus platinum-based NACT and radical resection from January 2010 to January 2015 were included. Patients were divided into an increased group and a decreased group based on the leukocyte count, platelet count, and absolute neutrophil count in the early stage after NACT, compared with the baseline blood routine examination results. The prognosis was compared between the increased group and the decreased group.

RESULTS

The 3-year PFS and 5-year OS of the group with increased leukocyte count, platelet count, and absolute neutrophil count were significantly lower compared to those of the decreased group. Based on the multivariate analysis, increased absolute neutrophil count is an independent risk factor for 3-year PFS (P < 0.001, HR 3.003, 95% CI 1.639-5.495) and 5-year OS (P = 0.003, HR 2.611, 95% CI 1.374-4.950), and increased platelet count is an independent risk factor for 5-year OS (P = 0.037, HR 2.033, 95% CI 1.044-3.953).

CONCLUSION

The "myelostimulation" that occurs in patients with LAGC in the early stage (3-5 days) after fluorouracil plus platinum-based NACT is related to a poor prognosis, which is a simple and effective method to screen related patients with unfavored outcomes. Notably, the increase in absolute neutrophil count and platelet count has been proved to be an independent risk factor.

The prognostic importance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in testicular cancer

PURPOSE

Testicular cancer is mostly seen in young men. We planned this study that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) would help us predict the prognosis of the patients, except known markers such as AFP, hCG, and LDH.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Between 2015 and 2020, we conducted our study on 152 patients undergoing radical orchiectomy in our clinic. We divided our patients into good, moderate, and poor prognostic groups. We also created a control group of healthy patients of similar ages. We evaluated the NLR results in preoperative peripheral blood statistically among these groups.

RESULTS

We found a significant difference between the control group and the patient group, and between the good and moderate/poor prognostic groups for preoperative NLR.

CONCLUSION

This study created the opinion that preoperative NLR will help us predict the prognosis of patients.

Dynamic changes of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts breast cancer prognosis

BACKGROUND

We aimed to identify whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are more useful predictors after initial intention to treat than at the time of diagnosis.

METHODS

We collected the medical data of 533 patients. The results of the peripheral blood sampling before the primary treatments were labeled as initial cohort, and those obtained between 24 and 36 months after initial treatment were defined as the 2nd cohort. Delayed metastasis has been defined as distant metastasis 2 years after treatment, and survival outcome was estimated and compared across groups.

RESULTS

Median follow-up duration was 74 months (24-162 months), and 53 patients experienced delayed metastasis. In univariate analysis, metastasis-free survival, patient age at diagnosis, tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, HER-2 status, initial NLR and PLR, and 2nd NLR and PLR were found to be significantly associated with delayed metastasis. However, in multivariate analysis, only the 2nd NLR and PLR were found to be significantly associated with delayed metastasis, excluding initial NLR and PLR. Metastasis-free survival was analyzed through the pattern changes of NLR or PLR. The results revealed that patients with continued low NLR and PLR values at pre- and post-treatment (low initial values and 2nd values) showed a significantly better prognosis than those with a change in value or continued high NLR and PLR.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified that patients with persistent high NLR and PLR after initial treatment have significant worse prognosis in terms of late metastasis. Therefore, these results suggest that NLR and PLR are more useful in predicting prognosis post-treatment.

Systemic Inflammatory Indicators as Prognosticators in Glioblastoma Patients: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Previous studies have reported the prognostic value of several peripheral inflammatory markers in glioma patients, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). However, it still remains unclear whether inflammatory markers can independently predict the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) patients. The present study aims to explore the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory markers, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, the NLR, and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in patients with GBM.

Methods: A comprehensive systemic search and review was performed using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all the relevant literature (published before June 30, 2020) that evaluated the association between any of these inflammatory markers and survival in GBM.

Results: There were 2 (634 patients), 3 (723 patients), 2 (237 patients), 8 (1,225 patients), and 3 (505 patients) studies examining the correlation of survival with neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, the NLR, and the PLR, respectively. An elevated NLR and elevated neutrophil and platelet counts were associated with worse overall survival (OS) in GBM patients (NLR: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–2.15, p = 0.0007; neutrophil count: HR = 1.46, 95% CI:1.16–1.83, p = 0.001; platelet count: HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.42–1.77, p < 0.00001). However, there was no significant association between the PLR or the absolute lymphocyte count and OS in GBM patients.

Conclusion: The NLR and the absolute neutrophil and platelet counts may be valuable and convenient peripheral inflammatory markers to evaluate the prognosis of GBM patients. Further prospective studies are needed to verify its reliability.

Developing a Preoperative Algorithm for the Diagnosis of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Early diagnosis of the rare and life-threatening uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is essential for prompt treatment, to improve survival. Preoperative distinction of LMS from benign leiomyoma remains a challenge, and thus LMS is often diagnosed post-operatively. This retrospective observational study evaluated the predictive diagnostic utility of 32 preoperative variables in 190 women who underwent a hysterectomy, with a postoperative diagnosis of leiomyoma (n = 159) or LMS (n = 31), at the Liverpool Women’s National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, between 2010 and 2019. A total of 7 preoperative variables were associated with increased odds of LMS, including postmenopausal status (p < 0.001, OR 3.08), symptoms of pressure (p = 0.002, OR 2.7), postmenopausal bleeding (p = 0.001, OR 5.01), neutrophil count ≥7.5 × 10⁹/L (p < 0.001, OR 5.72), haemoglobin level <118 g/L (p = 0.037, OR 2.22), endometrial biopsy results of cellular atypia or neoplasia (p = 0.001, OR 9.6), and a mass size of ≥10 cm on radiological imaging (p < 0.0001, OR 8.52). This study has identified readily available and easily identifiable preoperative clinical variables that can be implemented into clinical practice to discern those with high risk of LMS, for further specialist investigations in women presenting with symptoms of leiomyoma.

Could Inflammatory Indices and Metabolic Syndrome Predict the Risk of Cancer Development? Analysis from the Bagnacavallo Population Study

Background: Despite the robust data available on inflammatory indices (neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII)) and clinical outcome in oncological patients, their utility as a predictor of cancer incidence in the general population has not been reported in literature. Methods: The Bagnacavallo study was performed between October 2005 and March 2009. All citizens of Bagnacavallo (Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) aged 30–60 years as of January 2005 were eligible and were invited by written letter to participate to the study. All participants underwent a detailed clinical history and physical examination following the model of the Dionysos Study. All blood values included in the analysis were obtained the day of physical examination. Cancer incidence data were obtained from the population-based Romagna Cancer Registry, which operates according to standard methods. The aim of this analysis was to examine the association between metabolic syndrome and baseline SII, NLR, and PLR levels, and the diagnosis of an invasive cancer in the Bagnacavallo study cohort. Results: At univariate analysis, metabolic syndrome was not associated with an increase of cancer incidence (HR 1.30; p = 0.155). High glucose (HR 1.49; p = 0.0.16), NLR HR 1.54, p = 0.002), PLR (HR 1.58, p = 0.001), and SII (HR 1.47, p = 0.006) were associated with an increase of cancer incidence. After adjusting for clinical covariates (smoking, physical activity, education, age, and gender) SII, PLR, and NLR remained independent prognostic factors for the prediction of cancer incidence. Conclusions: Inflammatory indices are promising, easy to perform, and inexpensive tools for identifying patients with higher risk of cancer in cancer-free population.

Tumor Associated Neutrophils. Their Role in Tumorigenesis, Metastasis, Prognosis and Therapy

Tumor Associated Neutrophils (TANs) are engaged into the tumor microenvironment by cytokines and chemokines, can be distinguished according to their activation and cytokine status and effects on tumor cell growing in N1 and N2 TANs. N1 TANs exert an antitumor activity, by direct or indirect cytotoxicity. N2 TANs stimulate immunosuppression, tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis by DNA instability, or by cytokines and chemokines release. In tumor patients, either a high number of TANs and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) do correlate with poor prognosis, and, so far, TAN counts and NLR can be regarded as biomarkers. Owing to the pivotal role of TANs in stimulating tumor progression, therapeutic strategies to target TANs have been suggested, and two major approaches have been proposed: (a) targeting the CXCL-8/CXCR-1/CXCR-2 axis, thereby blocking TANs or (b) targeting substances produced by polymorpho-nuclear cells that promote tumor growth. Many studies have been accomplished either in vitro and in animal models, whereas clinical studies are restrained, presently, due to the risk of inducing immunosuppression. In this review, we deeply discuss the anti-tumorigenic or pro-tumorigenic activity of TANs. In particular, TANs relevance in tumor prognosis and in vitro therapeutic strategies are widely described. On-going clinical trials, aimed to inhibit neutrophil recruitment into the tumor are also accurately debated.

Prognostic values of lymphocyte and eosinophil counts in resectable cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Aim: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women. Peripheral white blood cell parameters such as neutrophil (NE), eosinophil (EO), basophil (BA), as well as lymphocyte (LY) and monocyte (MO), are correlated with tumor outcomes. Methods: In total, 110 cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients were recruited in this study. The potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate survival analysis. Results: Cox regression analysis model indicated that higher pretreatment EO level and increased post-/preradiotherapy EO ratio were independently associated with worse progression-free survival. Lower pretreatment LY or higher EO levels and increased post-/preradiotherapy EO ratio were independently associated with worse overall survival. Conclusion: LY and EO are correlated with outcomes of cervical squamous cell cancer.

The Kinetic Changes of Systemic Inflammatory Factors during Bevacizumab Treatment and Its Prognostic Role in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Background: Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy is still one of the standard options for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients without driver mutations. Serum inflammatory factors, representing the systemic immune status, are shown to have complicated relationships with tumor angiogenesis, and proved to be associated with survival of advanced NSCLC patients. However, the information from the baseline factors is relatively limited, which cannot reflect the dynamic changes of systemic immune status during bevacizumab treatment. We, thus, attempted to evaluate longitudinal kinetics of systemic inflammatory factors during treatment of bevacizumab and to explore their predictive role in treatment response and patient outcomes in advanced NSCLC.

Method: Systemic inflammatory factors (neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte (PLR), neutrophil×platelet/lymphocyte (SII) and lymphocyte/monocyte (LMR)) and clinical variables were collected and analyzed from 161 advanced NSCLC patients treated with bevacizumab. Mixed effect regression models were first performed for longitudinal analysis of the changes of serum inflammatory factors during bevacizumab treatment. Then, univariate and multivariate Cox models were used for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) analyses to determine the independent prognostic factors.

Results: In the first 6 cycles of bevacizumab treatment, patients with complete response/partial response (CR/PR) had a -0.11, -0.066, -0.15, and 0.073 change every 2 cycles in transformed NLR (95%CI: -0.19--0.03, p=0.008), PLR (95%CI: -0.12--0.013, p=0.015), SII (95%CI: -0.23--0.05, p<0.001) and LMR (95%CI: 0.049-0.14, p=0.036), respectively, compared to patients with progressive disease (PD). With respect to analysis of the longitudinal changes before progression, patients experienced a significant increase in transformed NLR (Coef=0.09, 95%CI: 0.019-0.17, p=0.014), PLR (Coef=0.05, 95%CI: 0.002-0.10, p=0.04), and SII (Coef=0.091, 95%CI: 0.015-0.17, p=0.019), but a decrease in transformed LMR (Coef=-0.08, 95%CI: -0.14-0.018, p=0.012). On multivariate Cox model analyses, decrease of LMR (HR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.4-0.96, p=0.033) was shown to be the independent risk factor for PFS; and low level of baseline LMR (HR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.17-0.94, p=0.036), increase of NLR (HR=2.36, 95%CI: 1.25-4.44, p=0.008), and decrease of LMR (HR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.18-0.97, p=0.041) were the independent risk factors for death.

Conclusion: The activation of systemic immune status evaluated by the kinetic changes of serum inflammatory factors was associated with good response to bevacizumab; however, the suppressive status may indicate the resistance to bevacizumab. Dynamic changes of systemic inflammatory factors also had prognostic value in predicting outcomes of advanced NSCLC patients treated with bevacizumab.

Innate immune cell infiltration in melanoma metastases affects survival and is associated with BRAFV600E mutation status

Little is known about the infiltrative pattern of innate immune cells in primary melanoma compared with their paired metastases and in BRAF-mutated tumors. Therefore, our aim was to characterize the inflammatory microenvironment in primary ulcerated and nonulcerated melanomas and paired metastases, to investigate the relation between inflammation and BRAF mutation in primary melanoma and paired metastases, and to evaluate the effect of the analyzed biomarkers on melanoma-specific survival. A total of 385 primary tumors and 96 paired metastases were stained with immunohistochemistry for BRAF, CD163+ macrophages, CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells, CD66b+ neutrophils, and E-cadherin and estimated using objective computer-assisted image analysis. BRAF was semiquantitatively scored as either present or absent. In metastases of nonulcerated melanomas, we observed higher neutrophil (P=0.02) and macrophage (P=0.01) numbers. In the metastases of ulcerated melanomas, we found a higher number of macrophages (P<0.0001). Increase in the neutrophil numbers in the metastases was associated with poor patient survival after first relapse (hazard ratio=1.19, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.38, P=0.02). BRAF-positive primary tumors (P=0.02) and metastases (P=0.01) exhibited increased plasmacytoid dendritic cell numbers compared with BRAF-negative tumors. Lastly, primary melanomas in men had higher neutrophil numbers than women (P≤0.0001), and men had worse melanoma-specific survival (hazard ratio=1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.21, P=0.03). Our data show that melanoma metastases are densely infiltrated with neutrophils, which affects survival. Our results also highlight the importance of recognizing the presence of inflammatory cells in the metastases as a prognostic marker, and that they may potentially be used to improve the precision of immunotherapy and BRAF targeted therapy.

The great escape: How metastases of melanoma, and other carcinomas, avoid elimination

IMPACT STATEMENT

Cancers kill mainly because metastatic disease is resistant to systemic therapies. It was hoped that newer targeted and immunomodulatory interventions could overcome these issues. However, recent findings point to a generalized resistance to elimination imparted by both cancer-intrinsic and -extrinsic changes to provide survival advantages to the disseminated tumor cells. Here, we present a novel conceptual framework for the microenvironmental inputs and changes that contribute to this generalized therapeutic resistance. In addition we address the issues of experimental systems in terms of studying this phenomenon with their advantages and limitations. This is meant to spur studies into this critical aspect of tumor progression that directly leads to cancer mortality.

High pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of poor survival prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The prognostic roles of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but their results remain controversial.

Methods

A total of 25 literatures with 28 cohorts involving 6847 HNSCC patients were included. The hazard ratio (HR) was pooled with 95% confidence interval (CI) using fixed‐effects or random‐effects models.

Results

High pretreatment NLR predicted poor overall survival (OS: HR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.39‐2.03; P < .001), disease‐free survival (DFS: HR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.42‐2.17; P < .001), progression‐free survival (PFS: HR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.09‐2.14; P = .014), and cancer‐specific survival (CSS: HR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.23‐1.71; P < .001) in HNSCC. However, the association between PLR and OS or DFS was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The NLR can serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with HNSCC.

Prognostic value of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with soft tissue sarcoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to possess significant prognostic value in multiple types of cancer. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment NLR in soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

METHODS

A systematic literature search through April 2018 was conducted to identify studies evaluating the prognostic value of the pretreatment NLR in STS patients. The end points were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and clinicopathological parameters. All statistical analyses were conducted with Stata 13.0.

RESULTS

Fourteen cohorts with 2820 patients were analyzed. Elevated NLR was significantly correlated with worse OS [hazard ratio (HR): 1.59, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.28-1.97, P < .001] and DFS/PFS (HR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.12-1.47; P < .001). In addition, elevated NLR was highly correlated with age (≥ 65 years), tumor size (>5 cm), tumor depth (deep), Grade (G3), and TNM stage (III-IV).

CONCLUSION

Overall, pretreatment NLR could be an adverse prognostic biomarker for STS.

Can routine peripheral blood counts like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio be beneficial in prediagnosis of testicular cancer and its stages?

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic role of preoperative hematological parameters, especially neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in germ cell testicular malignancies and their prediagnostic role in staging of testicular cancer.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional retrospective study, we analyzed 39 patients who underwent radical orchiectomy due to a testicular cancer (Group 1) and 82 patients on whom varicocelectomy procedure was performed as control group (Group 2) between January 2006 and January 2016 in our clinic. Evaluation of the preoperative hematological parameters in both groups and also the subgroups in malignancy group according to histopathological stages was conducted in this study.

Results

When the hematological parameters were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of neutrophil counts, NLR, PLR, and MPV. NLR and PLR were significantly higher and MPV was significantly lower in testicular cancer group compared to the control group. NLR was 3.1 ± 1.4 and 2.0 ± 1.5, PLR was 141.3 ± 53.2 and 115.7 ± 44.8, and MPV was 8.9 ± 1.0 and 9.3 ± 1.1 for testicular cancer and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, differences were observed between only mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and MPV (P < 0.05) in different stages of malignancy.

Conclusion

In accordance with these findings, NLR, PLR, and MPV may be helpful for prediagnosis of testicular malignancies. Hematological parameters will become important in the preoperative assessment for those patients.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in melanoma patients: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Recently, the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been widely evaluated in many cancers. Here we assessed the prognostic value of pretreatment NLR in melanoma.

METHODS

A range of online databases was systematically searched up to March,2018 for identify available studies which assessed the prognostic significance of NLR. Data from studies reporting a hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were weighted by generic inverse-variance and pooled in random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve studies with 4593 individuals were included. Patients with elevated NLR had a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.28-1.90, p < .001) and disease-free survival (DFS)/progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.24-2.80; P = .003). Subgroup analyses showed that the negative prognostic effect of elevated NLR on OS remained substantial in North American and Europen populations and patients with non-metastatic and metastatic stage. Additionally, elevated NLR was related to worse OS in patients with melanoma, regardless of the sample size and the cut-off value.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that elevated pretreatment NLR was associated with poor prognosis in melanoma patients, suggesting NLR might be a prognostic factor in patients with melanoma.

One microenvironment does not fit all: heterogeneity beyond cancer cells

Human cancers exhibit formidable molecular heterogeneity, to a large extent accounting for the incomplete and transitory efficacy of current anti-cancer therapies. However, neoplastic cells alone do not manifest the disease, but conscript a battery of non-tumor cells to enable and sustain hallmark capabilities of cancer. Escaping immunosurveillance is one of such capabilities. Tumors evolve immunosuppressive microenvironment to subvert anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we will focus on tumor-associated myeloid cells, which constitute an essential part of the immune microenvironment and reciprocally interact with cancer cells to establish malignancy toward metastasis. The diversity and plasticity of these cells constitute another layer of heterogeneity, beyond the heterogeneity of cancer cells themselves. We envision that immune microenvironment co-evolves with the genetic heterogeneity of tumor. Addressing the question of how genetically distinct tumors shape and are shaped by unique immune microenvironment will provide an attractive rationale to develop novel immunotherapeutic modalities. Here, we discuss the complex nature of tumor microenvironment, with an emphasis on the cellular and functional heterogeneity among tumor-associated myeloid cells as well as immune environment heterogeneity in the context of a full spectrum of human breast cancers.

Ladarixin, a dual CXCR1/2 inhibitor, attenuates experimental melanomas harboring different molecular defects by affecting malignant cells and tumor microenvironment

CXCR1 and CXCR2 chemokine receptors and their ligands (CXCL1/2/3/7/8) play an important role in tumor progression. Tested to date CXCR1/2 antagonists and chemokine-targeted antibodies were reported to affect malignant cells in vitro and in animal models. Yet, redundancy of chemotactic signals and toxicity hinder further clinical development of these approaches. In this pre-clinical study we investigated the capacity of a novel small molecule dual CXCR1/2 inhibitor, Ladarixin (LDX), to attenuate progression of experimental human melanomas. Our data showed that LDX-mediated inhibition of CXCR1/2 abrogated motility and induced apoptosis in cultured cutaneous and uveal melanoma cells and xenografts independently of the molecular defects associated with the malignant phenotype. These effects were mediated by the inhibition of AKT and NF-kB signaling pathways. Moreover, systemic treatment of melanoma-bearing mice with LDX also polarized intratumoral macrophages to M1 phenotype, abrogated intratumoral de novo angiogenesis and inhibited melanoma self-renewal. Collectively, these studies outlined the pre-requisites of the successful CXCR1/2 inhibition on malignant cells and demonstrated multifactorial effects of Ladarixin on cutaneous and uveal melanomas, suggesting therapeutic utility of LDX in treatment of various melanoma types.

Prognostic Index for Survival in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Third-Generation Agents

We retrospectively evaluated clinical data from patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with third-generation chemotherapy agents prior to treatment, to determine a reliable method for predicting prognosis in such patients. We analyzed 100 patients who received third-generation agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, irinotecan, and vinorelbine) for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Factors significantly related to prognosis were evaluated using the Cox regression model, and the prognostic index (PI) was determined by combining these factors. The mean follow-up duration was 12.6 months (0.2-67.0 months). Multivariate analysis identified pleural effusion, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level as significant factors that independently contribute to prognosis in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with third-generation agents (p < 0.05). The PI was calculated using these 3 factors, according to the following formula: PI = 0.581 × pleural effusion + 0.125 × ANC + 0.105 × CRP. The death rate in the group with the highest PI scores was significantly higher than in the group with the lowest scores (p < 0.001). Pleural effusion, ANC, and CRP level were the most important factors that contributed to prognosis following chemotherapy with third-generation agents in patients with advanced NSCLC. The PI is suggested to be an appropriate index to predict the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) at the Time of Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor: A Large Retrospective Study and Analysis of Racial Differences

Introduction: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an indicator of systemic inflammation and has been proven to be associated with an increased risk of extravesical disease, decreased cancer specific survival and overall survival in bladder cancer patients. A large proportion of healthy African Americans have a WBC count that is persistently lower than the normal range defined for individuals of European ancestry, this condition has been called "benign ethnic neutropenia". The purpose of our study was to determine if NLR was different in patients of African ancestry (AA) vs European ancestry (EA) across different tumor grades and stages at the time of transurethral resection of bladder tumor(s) (TURBT). Materials and Methods: The records of consecutive patients who underwent TURBT were reviewed from the University of Wisconsin and the Atlanta Veterans' Administration Medical Center (2000-2012). NLR was compared across tumor stage, tumor grade and ethnicity. Results: 297 consecutive patients met study criteria. 89% and 86%, were males and of European ancestry (EA) respectively. NLRs were different across T-stages (Ta-2.5, T1-3.9, T2-3.8; p = 0.001). but not across tumor grades in Ta (LG-2.5 vs HG-3.9, p = 0.57). EA had higher NLRs than AA (3.4 vs 1.9; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Higher NLRs appear to be associated with more advanced tumor stage at the time of TURBT. Patients of African ancestry have lower NLRs across all tumor stages compared to patients of European ancestry. Ethnicity should be taken into account when interpreting the NLR in patients with bladder cancer.

Control of immune cell entry through the tumour vasculature: a missing link in optimising melanoma immunotherapy?

Metastatic melanoma remains a fatal disease to many worldwide, even after the breakthrough introduction of targeted therapies such as BRAF inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockade therapies such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors. With advances in our understanding of this disease, as well as the increasing data gathered from patient studies, the significance of the host immune response to cancer progression and response to treatment is becoming clear. More specifically, the presence of intratumoral CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-cells correlates with better prognosis whereas the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils in the tumour is often associated with worse prognosis. Access and infiltration of circulating leukocytes into the tumour is governed by adhesion molecules and chemokines expressed by the endothelial cells of the vasculature. This review focuses on the adhesion molecules and chemokines which control the homing of CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-cells, monocytes and neutrophils to peripheral tissues, including tumours. We discuss the role of these leukocyte subsets in regulating melanoma growth, and detail the mechanisms used by tumours to selectively recruit or exclude these leukocytes for their own advantage. In doing so, we bring to light an underappreciated component of tumour biology which should be considered in combination with current treatments to selectively alter the leukocyte composition of tumours and ultimately enhance treatment outcome.