Modified combination of platelet count and neutrophil “to” lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced head and neck cancer

Abstract

Background

We evaluated the prognostic potential of the combination of platelet count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (COP-NLR) in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods

We proposed a modified COP-NLR scoring system defined as follows: score 0 (platelet count level <300 × 10⁹/L and NLR <3); score 1 (platelet count level ≥300 × 10⁹/L and NLR <3); and score 2 (NLR ≥3). We assessed whether the modified scoring system had better performance as an indicator of prognosis than the existing COP-NLR scoring system (original and 4-group scores).

Results

A total of 248 patients were enrolled. The Akaike Information Criterion value with the modified COP-NLR score was the smallest among the 3 models. The 3-year survival rates according to the modified COP-NLR scores of 0, 1, and 2 were 80.6%, 59.9%, and 23.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

The modified COP-NLR score is a useful prognostic marker in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

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