A New Inflammatory Prognostic Index, Based on C-reactive Protein, the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Albumin is Useful for Predicting Prognosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cases

The Predictive Value of the Inflammatory Prognostic Index for Detecting No-Reflow in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

BACKGROUND

No-reflow (NR) is characterized by an acute reduction in coronary flow that is not accompanied by coronary spasm, thrombosis, or dissection. Inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) is a novel marker that was reported to have a prognostic role in cancer patients and is calculated by neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) multiplied by C-reactive protein/albumin ratio.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the relationship between IPI and NR in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

METHODS

A total of 1541 patients were enrolled in this study (178 with NR and 1363 with reflow). Lasso panelized shrinkage was used for variable selection. A nomogram was created based on IPI for detecting the risk of NR development. Internal validation with Bootstrap resampling was used for model reproducibility. A two-sided p-value <0.05 was accepted as a significance level for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

IPI was higher in patients with NR than in patients with reflow. IPI was non-linearly associated with NR. IPI had a higher discriminative ability than the systemic immune-inflammation index, NLR, and CRP/albumin ratio. Adding IPI to the baseline multivariable logistic regression model improved the discrimination and net-clinical benefit effect of the model for detecting NR patients, and IPI was the most prominent variable in the full model. A nomogram was created based on IPI to predict the risk of NR. Bootstrap internal validation of nomogram showed a good calibration and discrimination ability.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study that shows the association of IPI with NR in STEMI patients who undergo pPCI.

Assessing the role of colonic and other anatomical sites uptake by [18 F]FDG-PET/CT and immune-inflammatory peripheral blood indexes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Inflammation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may impair the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and can be indicated by peripheral blood inflammatory indexes. 2-deoxy-2-[18 F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18 F] FDG-PET/CT) may be used as a marker of inflammation by measuring glucose metabolism in different colonic sites.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between [18 F] FDGPET/CT SUVratio in six gastrointestinal districts, the spleen, the pharynx and the larynx alongside the most avid tumor lesion with peripheral blood inflammatory indexes, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII, i.e., NLR times platelets) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), in patients with [18 F] FDG-PET/CT staged IV NSCLC who received first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The role of SUVratios and peripheral blood inflammatory indexes in predicting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was then explored.

RESULTS

A total of 43 patients were treated with first-line ICI alone (58%) or in combination with chemotherapy (42%). A significant correlation was only found between the rectosigmoid SUVratio and NLR (p = 0.0465). NLR >5.5 and LDH > 333.5 were associated with a worse OS (p = 0.033 and p = 0.009, respectively). The SII was associated with a worse PFS in patients treated with ICI alone (p = 0.033). None of the SUVratios were significantly associated with OS or PFS, although a high left colon SUVratio showed a trend toward a worse PFS.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant correlation between [18 F]FDG PET/CT uptake in different anatomical sites, and in the tumor, and systemic immune-inflammatory indexes. The prognostic role of high left colon SUVratio deserves further investigation.

Risk factors indicating immune-related adverse events with combination chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and platinum agents in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective study

PURPOSE

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) ushered in a new era for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, they carry the risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Recently, various studies have been conducted on the predictive factors for irAEs, but there are no reports focusing only on ICI plus platinum agents. The present study aimed to identify the risk factors for irAEs due to ICI combined with platinum-based induction immunochemotherapy in NSCLC patients, focusing only on the period of combined therapy and excluding the period of ICI maintenance therapy.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 315 NSCLC patients who started ICI combined with platinum-based chemotherapy treatment at 14 hospitals between December 2018 and March 2021. A logistic regression analysis was used to explore the predictive factors.

RESULTS

Fifty patients (15.9%) experienced irAEs. A multivariate analysis revealed that squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.021; odds ratio [OR]: 2.30; 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.14-4.65), anti-programmed death 1 antibody (anti-PD-1) plus anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 antibody (anti-CTLA-4) regimens (P < 0.01; OR: 22.10; 95% Cl: 5.60-87.20), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte rate (NLR) < 3 (P < 0.01; OR: 2.91; 95% Cl: 1.35-6.27) were independent predictive factors for irAEs occurrence.

CONCLUSION

Squamous cell carcinoma, anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 regimens, and NLR < 3 may be predictive factors for the occurrence of irAEs due to induction immunochemotherapy in patients with NSCLC. By focusing on the potential risk of irAEs in patients with these factors, irAEs can be appropriately managed from an early stage.

The Clinical Value of Systemic Inflammatory Response Index and Inflammatory Prognosis Index in Predicting 3-Month Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Intravenous Thrombolysis

Purpose

Systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) was an independent predictor of the prognosis of many diseases. Inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) was a new inflammatory prognostic marker with certain clinical significance. We aimed to explore the association between SIRI, IPI and early stage severity of stroke as well as 3-month outcome of AIS patients.

Patients and Methods

A total of 63 AIS patients who treated with alteplase were selected. The patients were divided into mild group and moderate to severe group according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. According to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, patients were divided into the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group. Spearman correlation statistically analyzed the correlation between SIRI, IPI and NIHSS score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzed the risk factors of 3-month prognosis. ROC curve was adopted to predict the effect of SIRI and IPI levels on poor prognosis in AIS patients.

Results

Spearman analysis showed that there was positively correlated with NIHSS score and IPI in mild AIS group (r=0.541, P<0.05). Compared with the mild group, SIRI and IPI in the moderate to severe group was significantly higher (P<0.05). The SIRI and IPI in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SIRI and IPI were independent prognostic factors for the 3-month prognosis of AIS patients (P< 0.05). The ROC curve showed that the areas under the 3-month prognosis curve predicted by SIRI and IPI were 0.685, 0.774 respectively.

Conclusion

IPI is correlated with stroke severity at admission. SIRI and IPI are independent predictors of short-term prognosis in AIS patients. SIRI and IPI can be a novel the good short-term prognostic biomarker for AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Novel mortality-predicting index at diagnosis can effectively predict all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Background

This study investigated whether the inflammation prognostic index (IPI) and the mortality predicting index (MPI) at diagnosis could predict all‐cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods

We included 223 AAV patients and reviewed their medical records. Clinical and laboratory data and AAV‐specific indices at diagnosis were assessed. The IPI was calculated as neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) × C‐reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR). Here, we newly developed an MPI (NLR × CAR × monocyte counts).

Results

The mean age of 223 patients (122 MPA, 57 GPA and 44 EGPA patients) was 59 years. The rate of mortality was 11.2%. Using the receiver operator characteristic curve for all‐cause mortality, the cut‐offs were calculated as NLR: 3.22, CAR: 3.25, IPI: 18.53 and MPI: 8367.82. In the univariable Cox hazard analysis, age, gender, smoking history, BVAS, FFS and over the cut‐off of each index showed statistical significance. As the indices share at least two mutual variables, the multivariable analysis was conducted four times based on each index. An IPI ≥18.53 (HR 3.162) and MPI ≥8367.82 (HR 3.356) were significantly associated with all‐cause mortality.

Conclusions

This study developed a novel indicator, MPI, that uses the existing NLR and CAR indices and proved that it could predict all‐cause mortality in AAV patients.

Association between pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and immune-related adverse events due to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced or recurrent non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They cause immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), but the underlying mechanisms and predictors remain to be fully elucidated. In this retrospective study, we investigated the association between pretreatment neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the occurrence of irAEs.

Methods

The study involved 115 patients with NSCLC who started ICI‐only treatment in our hospital between January 2016 and April 2020.

Results

Forty‐five patients (39.1%) had irAEs, and pretreatment NLR was significantly lower in the irAEs group than in the non‐irAEs group (2.8 vs. 4.1; p = 0.036). The cutoff value of the NLR was 2.86 (area under curve, 0.62; sensitivity, 0.56; specificity, 0.71), and the incidence rate of irAEs was significantly higher in the NLR < 2.86 group than in the NLR ≥2.86 group (p = 0.004; odds ratio [OR]: 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43–6.84). The multivariate analysis showed that the NLR was significantly associated with the occurrence of irAEs (p = 0.016; OR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.21–6.01).

Conclusions

Low pretreatment NLR may be a predictive factor for the occurrence of irAEs. By focusing on the potential risk of irAEs in patients with a low pretreatment NLR, irAEs can be appropriately managed from an early period.

Peripheral blood eosinophilia may be a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immunotherapy

Background

Eosinophils have been traditionally associated with the initiation and propagation of inflammatory responses, particularly in allergic diseases and helminth infections. More recently, an association between eosinophils and cancer has been the focus of several studies, but controversial results have emerged. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of peripheral blood eosinophilia in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving immunotherapy (IO). We also evaluated the impact of peripheral eosinophilia on the occurrence of immune-related adverse effects (irAEs).

Methods

Advanced NSCLC patients under IO were included in a retrospective single-center study. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was defined by a count greater than 500/µL. Patients were analyzed for eosinophil counts, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR).

Results

A total of 121 NSCLC patients receiving IO were included. Thirty-three (27.3%) patients presented peripheral blood eosinophilia during treatment. Patients with peripheral eosinophilia presented more frequently non-progression as best overall response to IO (83.3% vs. 58.1%, P=0.014), higher median OS (26.6 vs. 9.5 months, P=0.022) and higher median PFS (13.8 vs. 4.6 months, P=0.013). IrAEs were more common in patients with peripheral eosinophilia (66.7% vs. 36.4%, P=0.003).

Conclusions

This study suggests that peripheral blood eosinophilia may predict better outcomes in NSCLC patients receiving IO, despite being associated with an increased risk of irAEs. According to our findings eosinophils may be involved in immune response against tumor. Routine eosinophils count assessment may be an additional prognostic tool in NSCLC patients receiving IO.

Could the Inflammatory Prognostic Index Predict the Efficacy of Regorafenib in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer?

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical importance of the inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with regorafenib.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 65 metastatic CRC patients treated with regorafenib between 2015 and 2020 was performed. The association between NLR, PNLR, IPI, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated.

RESULTS

According to the cut-off points, patients were divided into two groups. The patients in the high IPI group showed poorer OS compared to patients in the low IPI groups. The PFS was better in patients with low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (PNLR), and the OS was better in patients with low IPI.

CONCLUSION

Among the immune inflammation scores analyzed in mCRC patients receiving regorafenib, NLR and PNLR were the best predictor of recurrence, whereas IPI was the best predictor of long-term survival. After being confirmed by better designed controlled trials, IPI can be used to identify the group of patients who will benefit more from regorafenib treatment.

Anemia is a poor prognostic factor for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

•This study reports on the prognostic ability of haematological parameters for the largest known biopsy-proven stage-I medically inoperable cohort treated with SBRT.•After SBRT, the median values of Hb, ALC, ANC and TPC declined whereas the NLR and the PLR increased as compared to pre-SBRT.•Anemia along with other parameters was found to be a poor prognostic factor for local control despite treatment with SBRT to doses of >100 Gy BED₁₀.•Simple and minimally invasive methods like a peripheral blood sample can provide prognostic information even for stage-I NSCLC patients.•Patient, tumor and treatment factors along with molecular markers should be used to create risk stratification models that can guide therapy.

Prognostic evaluation of patients with resectable lung cancer using systemic inflammatory response parameters

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality. C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been identified as general parameters for systemic inflammatory response (SIR). Furthermore, these parameters are also associated with tumor development and metastasis. The present study aimed to investigate the predictive values of these SIR parameters in patients with resectable lung cancer. In total, 101 patients with resectable lung cancer were recruited in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median value of pre-treatment CRP, ALB, GLB, LDH, NLR or PLR values. The post-/pre-treatment ratios were defined as the ratio of pre-treatment blood parameter values and the corresponding values obtained following therapy. A ratio of ≤1.1 indicated that the values were not increased, while a ratio of >1.1 suggested that the values were increased following treatment. Patients with lower pre-treatment ALB levels had poorer overall survival (OS) rates, whereas GLB, LDH, CRP, NLR or PLR levels were not associated with outcomes. Whole course treatment (surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy) significantly increased the value of ALB, but decreased the value of NLR, whereas it had no effect on the values of LDH, CRP or PLR. Post-/pre-treatment LDH and PLR were associated with outcomes. Post-/pre-treatment ALB, GLB, CRP and NLR were not associated with outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that a low pre-treatment ALB level and increased post-/pre-treatment PLR were independent risk factors affecting OS. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that an ALB value of 47.850 g/l was considered to be the optimal cut-off value for prognosis; the sensitivity was 28.8% and specificity was 95.9%. It was suggested that the pre-treatment ALB and post-/pre-treatment PLR may be potential prognostic factors in resectable lung cancer.

A Clinical Prognostic Score to Predict Survival of Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Receiving First-Line Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND Although several complicated models have been built to evaluate the prognosis of NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy, simple economic models are still needed to give a preliminary survival assessment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study retrospectively assessed the clinical and biological parameters of 223 patients with advanced NSCLC. Univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for the parameters and the prognostic score were assessed. RESULTS Performance status (PS) score=1, smoking history, fibrinogenemia, thrombocytosis, increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and anemia were independent predictors of poor prognosis in the univariate analysis of OS and were assessed in multivariate analysis. There was a significant difference in PS=1 (HR=2.134, p<0.0001), increased LDH level (HR=1.508, p=0.014), thrombocytosis (HR=1.547, p=0.012), and smoking history (HR=1.491, p=0.008), based on which the patients were classified into 3 risk groups: low risk (0-1 points), moderate risk (2 points), and high risk (3-5 points). At p values of <0.0001, the median OS was 565, 340, and 273 days and the median progression-free survival was 250, 209, and 135 days, respectively in these 3 risk groups. CONCLUSIONS We established a new prognostic score model using PS, LDH level, PLT count, and smoking history to predict the survival of patients receiving first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC, which might be useful in clinical practice.

The Inflammatory Prognostic Index Predicts Cancer-Specific Outcomes of Patients with Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background:

Previous study developed a new inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) and found the prognostic value of IPI for all stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To the best of our knowledge, however, no studies regarding IPI in patients with resected NSCLC are available.

Methods:

Three hundred forty-one NSCLC patients who underwent surgery at our institution were included. The IPI was calculated as C-reactive protein × neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)/serum albumin. The optimal cut-off value was calculated by the Cutoff Finder. Univariate and multivariate analyses were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results:

The optimal cut-off value was 5.237 for IPI. The IPI was associated with age, gender, smoking status, histology, pT status and serum CYFRA21-1 level, but not pStage, pN status and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. The 5-year cancer-specific survival of patients with low IPI was significantly better than that with high IPI (84.8% vs. 57.9%, p<0.001). Furthermore, low IPI was significantly associated with favorable cancer-specific survival in univariate (HR =0.326, 95% CI =0.212-0.494; p<0.001) and multivariate (HR =0.438, 95% CI =0.276-0.690; p=0.001) analyses.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to demonstrate that IPI might serve as an efficient prognostic indicator in resected NSCLC.