Assessment of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and mean platelet volume levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma and their correlation with histological grading and TNM staging

Objectives: The inflammatory response of the host plays a role in the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We studied the levels of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in OSCC patients and correlated them with TNM staging and histopathological grade to assess their role in prognosis. Materials and Methods: The study included 30 cases of OSCC and 30 controls. The mean NLR, PLR, and MPV of patients with OSCC were compared to the control group. Differences between different variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance test and unpaired t -test. Spearman’s rho test was used to determine the correlation between NLR, PLR, and MPV values in OSCC cases. Results: Mean PLR and NLR were higher, and mean MPV was lower in the OSCC group than in the control group. There was a statistically significant relationship between PLR and clinical TNM stage of cancer. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant relationship between PLR and NLR and histological stages of cancer. A statistically significant positive correlation between NLR and PLR was also observed. Conclusion: NLR and PLR, two inflammatory blood markers, have a significant prognostic impact on OSCC. MPV levels were not as important in predicting prognosis in OSCC as NLR and PLR. PLR and NLR are simple to incorporate into medical care and, when combined with other prognostic indicators, can help in the prognosis of OSCC.