Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Locally Advanced Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Undergoing Definitive Chemoradiation

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio for predicting treatment response in patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer receiving definitive Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy. Material and Methods: Study Design: Single-institution, retrospective cohort study. Study Population: 100 patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma (stages II-IVA), aged 18-70 years. Patients who had previously received chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. Study Period: The study included 100 patients treated from 2022 to 2023. These patients received curative radiotherapy of 70 Gy over 35 fractions, along with concurrent weekly chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs. Outcome Measurement: Treatment response was evaluated using CECT scan reports three months post-chemoradiation. Results and Conclusion: Out of 51 patients having high NLR, 25 had relapsed. While out of 49 patients having normal NLR, 12 had relapsed within 18 months. The p-value = 0.0085 indicates that the difference between the two groups is statistically significant (p < 0.05). A high NLR is associated with a higher relapse rate, making it a potential prognostic marker for patient outcomes. Clinically, this suggests that monitoring NLR levels in patients might help predict relapse risks, and those with high NLR may require closer follow-up or more aggressive treatment strategies.