Is Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet Score a Prognostic Indicator in Metastatic Squamous Cell Lung Cancer?

Aim: We aimed to determine the prognosis by using the HALP score as a prognostic marker in patients followed in our clinic due to metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed 35 patients diagnosed with metastatic lung SCC in our clinic between January 2015 and December 2022. Overall survival (OS) was calculated as the time from metastasis date to death or last follow-update. The HALP score was calculate dusing laboratory parameters at the time of metastasis, according to the formula [HALP = hemoglobin (g/L) × albumin (g/L) × lymphocyte count / thrombocyte count]. Results: Of the 35 patients included in the study, 28 were male (80%). There was no statistically significant association between the HALP score and gender (p=0.735), age groups (p=0.862), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p=0.915), receipt of palliative radiotherapy (p=0.238), and body mass index groups (p=0.615). In the overall cohort, the median OS was 18 months, while it was 14.4 months in the low HALP group and 20 months in the high HALP group. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the HALP score could be a crucial prognostic marker for patients with squamous cell lung cancer. A lower HALP score is linked to a shorter OS.