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Mosca M, Nigro MC, Pagani R, De Giglio A, Di Federico A. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in NSCLC, Gastrointestinal, and Other Solid Tumors: Immunotherapy and Beyond. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1803. [PMID: 38136673 PMCID: PMC10741961 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the era of immunotherapy, identifying biomarkers of immune system activation has become a high-priority challenge. The blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been largely investigated as a biomarker in several cancer types. NLR values have been shown to mirror the tumor-induced inflammatory status and have been demonstrated to be a reliable prognostic tool across stages of disease and therapeutic approaches. When integrated with other biomarkers of response to immunotherapy, such as PD-L1, tumor mutational burden, and tumor-associated immune cells, the NLR may allow to further stratify patients with different likelihoods of deriving a significant clinical benefit. However, despite its accessibility, low cost, and easy interpretation, the NLR is still poorly used as a prognostic tool in daily clinical practice. In this review, we analyze the role of the NLR in defining the relationship between cancer and the immune system, its usefulness in daily clinical practice, and its relationship with other established or emerging biomarkers of immunotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirta Mosca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.N.); (R.P.); (A.D.F.)
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Nigro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.N.); (R.P.); (A.D.F.)
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rachele Pagani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.N.); (R.P.); (A.D.F.)
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea De Giglio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.N.); (R.P.); (A.D.F.)
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Federico
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.N.); (R.P.); (A.D.F.)
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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