A Novel Prognostic Marker Based on Risk Stratification with Prognostic Nutritional Index and Age for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Who Received Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Materials & methods: We conducted a retrospective study on prognostic value of PNI in NPC patients. A new prognostic marker was explored based on risk stratification with PNI and age. Results: PNI and age were two independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival besides node stage and clinical stage. Low prognostic nutritional index and high age (LPNI–HAge) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for both OS (p < 0.001) and progression free survival (p = 0.008), which has a better predict value than sole PNI or age. Conclusion: The novel prognosis index LPNI-HAge provides prognostication of OS and progression free survival for NPC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Keywords:

• nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• prognostic nutritional index

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported by Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan province universal application project (grant number 17PJ505 and 18PJ102) and National Key Research and Development Plan (grant number 2017YFC0113100). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Sichuan Cancer Hospital. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan province universal application project (grant number 17PJ505 and 18PJ102) and National Key Research and Development Plan (grant number 2017YFC0113100). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.