title: Systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognosticators of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the pretreatment inflammatory markers platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with HNSCC at McGill University Health Center from 2000 to 2011 (273 patients were retained). Hematologic parameters were recorded within 4 weeks of diagnosis. Mortality and recurrence rates were compared according to various PLR and NLR thresholds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total patients, 20.5% died and 11.0% had disease recurrence. PLR >170 was associated with higher mortality (p = .008). The subgroup with a combination of PLR >170 and NLR ≤3.0 was associated with higher T classification and highest mortality (43%). NLR above 4.2 predicted higher rates of recurrence (p < .0001). The NLR/PLR combination was at least as good as TNM staging in predicting survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLR is an independent predictor of mortality; NLR is an independent predictor of recurrence in HNSCC. These parameters might be used to identify advanced stages rapidly and economically.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Alipasha
authors: A
authors: Rassouli
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Saliba
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Castano
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Hier
authors: Anthony G
authors: AG
authors: Zeitouni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009504:Neutrophils; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: head and neck; inflammation; mortality; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; recurrence; squamous cell cancer