Hematologic markers predict nasopharyngeal cancer survival

(HealthDay)—Pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) may be predictors for survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in Head & Neck.

Wei Sun, M.D., from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, and colleagues evaluated the prognostic significance of various hematologic parameters in 251 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The researchers found that NLR ≥2.7 (hazard ratio, 2.01; P = 0.005) and PLR ≥167.2 (hazard ratio, 2.12; P = 0.001) were significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival, while PLR ≥163.4 was correlated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.64; P = 0.011).

"Pretreatment NLR and PLR can be independent prognostic factors for patients with NPC," the authors write.